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Heart Rate Variability and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Enhanced Behavioral Intervention to Improve Psychological and Disease Functioning in Youth With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Who can join

Ages 13 to 18 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis with biopsy-confirmed IBD for at least 4 months,
* ages 13 through 18 years inclusive,
* speak English,
* enrolling with at least 1 parent/guardian who is willing to participate by completing surveys,
* positive depression or anxiety screens using the PHQ-4, - access to home internet to participate in virtual intervention,
* youth and parent agree to the conditions of study participation, including randomization, participation in intervention, and follow-up assessments,
* youth is medically approved to engage in normal daily activities (e.g., attend school, extracurricular activities)

Exclusion Criteria:

* previous diagnosis of developmental disabilities that require full-time special education or that impair the ability to respond to treatment,
* diagnosis with any other chronic disease (e.g., diabetes, epilepsy, etc.),
* diagnosis of abnormal thyroid function,
* treatment with any drug with known autonomic cardiovascular influences including beta-blockers, central sympatholytic agents, or antidepressants.

About the study

The goals of this study are to test the effectiveness of a virtually delivered, group-based coping skills treatment program incorporating heart rate variability biofeedback to target autonomic dysfunction in youth diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The investigators will enroll participants with IBD in a biofeedback enhanced cognitive behaviorally based coping skills treatment. Participants will be randomized to biofeedback enhanced treatment or wait-list control.

What is being tested

• Biofeedback Enhanced Treatment (behavioral)

Sponsor: Emory University · Participants: 128 · Started: Feb 6, 2025

Contact the study team

• Bonney Reed, PhD · Phone: 404-727-8312

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06537258

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.