Higher resting RSA was linked to lower depression severity and, with RSA reactivity, predicted better session quality in psychotherapy for depression.
Can resting RSA and RSA reactivity serve as biomarkers for depression severity and session quality in patients with MDD undergoing psychotherapy?
Resting RSA and RSA reactivity may serve as physiological biomarkers for assessing depression severity and affective regulation dynamics during psychotherapy sessions.
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Objective: Enhancing affective regulation is a key focus in psychotherapy for depression, yet within-session markers that capture the dynamics of regulation remain limited. Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA), a biomarker of vagal mediation of the parasympathetic nervous system, is well-known for its role in affective regulation. This nonrandomized observational psychotherapy process study examined (1) whether resting RSA can serve as a biomarker for depression severity, and (2) whether RSA reactivity and its interaction with resting RSA can serve as a within-session therapeutic biomarker linked to session quality. Method: Twenty-eight clients with MDD underwent Supportive-Expressive short-term psychodynamic therapy. Resting RSA and RSA reactivity were measured during five pre-scheduled sessions throughout treatment. Session quality was assessed using the self-report Session Evaluation Scale questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multi-level modeling. Results: Higher resting RSA was associated with lower pre-session depression and was only significant at the within-client level. The interaction between resting RSA and RSA reactivity was linked to session quality, with higher resting RSA predicting a positive association between RSA reactivity and session evaluation. Conclusion: The findings underscore the value of physiological measures such as RSA as a biomarker for assessing depression severity that can capture affective regulation dynamics during therapy sessions.
Gören et al. (Fri,) reported a other. Higher resting RSA was linked to lower depression severity and, with RSA reactivity, predicted better session quality in psychotherapy for depression.