HeartMath Resilience Program for Stress

Overseen By Joseph Schwartz, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Florida State University

Disqualifiers: Not meeting inclusion criteria

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 months

300 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a program designed to reduce stress among correctional officers. It evaluates whether the HeartMath Resilience Program, integrated into regular training, benefits participants compared to those who do not receive the program immediately. Correctional officers at the Leon County Sheriff's Office in Tallahassee, FL, attending defensive tactics training, may qualify. The trial will compare results between participants using the program and those on a waitlist. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could improve stress management techniques for correctional officers.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the HeartMath Resilience Program is safe for reducing stress in correctional officers?

A previous study demonstrated that the HeartMath Resilience Program reduces stress and improves emotional well-being. Participants reported feeling less stressed and more peaceful. Another study found that the program helped individuals manage their heart rhythms, enhancing the body's ability to handle stress. The program was generally well-tolerated, with no serious side effects reported. Overall, the evidence suggests it is a safe option for managing stress. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the HeartMath Resilience Program because it offers a fresh approach to managing stress, a common issue that usually relies on medication or traditional therapy. This program is unique because it integrates biofeedback techniques, allowing participants to actively monitor and control their physiological responses to stress in real-time. By teaching individuals how to harness their own body's resilience, it empowers them to reduce stress without relying on external aids, potentially leading to longer-lasting and self-sustained benefits. This approach is promising because it focuses on enhancing personal resilience and stress management skills, which are not typically addressed by standard treatments.

What evidence suggests that the HeartMath Resilience Program is effective for reducing stress?

Research has shown that the HeartMath Resilience Program, which participants in this trial may receive, can help reduce stress. One study found that participants experienced a 37% decrease in stress levels, with scores dropping from 11.69 to 7.41 on a 15-point scale. Another study reported that over 5,500 people experienced fewer physical stress symptoms after 6 to 9 weeks. The program also improves resilience and emotional well-being, particularly for those dealing with substance use issues. These findings suggest the program could be beneficial for managing stress among correctional officers. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Tanya Renn, PhD

Principal Investigator

Florida State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for correctional officers at the Leon County Sheriff's Office who are 18 or older, can consent, speak English, and will attend a defensive tactics training. It's not open to those who don't meet these requirements.

Inclusion Criteria

Conversational English

Leon County Sheriff's Office jail correctional officers

Attending a defensive tactics training by Leon County Sheriff's Office

Exclusion Criteria

Not meeting Inclusion Criteria

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the HeartMath Resilience Program alongside their regularly scheduled defensive tactics training

12 months

Regular sessions integrated with training

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in stress levels, job satisfaction, workplace safety, and other psychological and occupational measures

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Heart Math Resilience Program

Trial Overview

The HeartMath Resilience Program is being tested to see if it helps reduce stress in participants. The study design involves multiple groups starting at different times with some waiting before they begin the program (staggered-entry, waitlist randomized controlled trial).

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: HeartMath Resilience Program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will receive programming alongside their regularly scheduled defensive tactics training.

Group II: Waitlist Control, No Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the waitlist control group will receive their regularly scheduled training programs

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Florida State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

234

Recruited

41,100+

Leon County Sheriff's Office

Collaborator

Published Research Related to This Trial

A Stress Reduction, Meditation, and Mindfulness Program significantly reduced perceived stress in heart failure patients, with scores dropping from 22.8 to 14.3 in the intervention group compared to an increase in the control group (p<0.001).

The program also led to notable improvements in quality of life, mindfulness, sleep quality, and physical performance (measured by a 6-minute walk test), highlighting its efficacy in enhancing overall well-being in patients with chronic heart failure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of a Stress Reduction, Meditation, and Mindfulness Program in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cavalcante, VN., Mesquita, ET., Cavalcanti, ACD., et al.[2023]

A 12-month follow-up study involving 324 patients with heart disease showed that online mindfulness training led to a small but significant improvement in exercise capacity, with participants walking an average of 17.9 meters further in a 6-minute test compared to usual care.

Mindfulness training also resulted in favorable long-term effects on systolic blood pressure, mental functioning, and depressive symptoms, suggesting it could be a beneficial addition to standard clinical care for heart disease patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Online mindfulness as a promising method to improve exercise capacity in heart disease: 12-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. Gotink, RA., Younge, JO., Wery, MF., et al.[2019]

The SMART program, designed to enhance resilience in physicians, did not show statistically significant improvements in resilience, happiness, stress, or anxiety at 3 and 6 months, based on a study of 40 academic physicians.

Despite the lack of statistical significance, the intervention group reported clinically relevant improvements in resilience, stress, and anxiety, suggesting potential benefits that warrant further investigation in larger trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of Stress Management and Resailience Training (SMART) on academic physicians during the implementation of a new Health Information System: An exploratory randomized controlled trial. Spilg, EG., Kuk, H., Ananny, L., et al.[2022]

Citations

1.

sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/wvn.70061?af=R

Effectiveness of a Nurse‐Led HeartMath Training Program on ...

The HeartMath Training Program is efficacious in improving resilience and emotional adjustment among patients with substance use disorder and ...

2.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06849388

Effect of HeartMath Intervention on Stress, Emotional ...

Scores on the scale range from 14 to 98. The higher score indicates the ability to respond with resilience and lower score indicates lower resilience. over two ...

3.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40708166/

Effectiveness of a Nurse-Led HeartMath Training Program ...

Aim: To investigate the effects of the nurse-led HeartMath Training Program on resilience, emotional adjustment, and treatment motivation among patients with ...

4.

heartmath.com

heartmath.com/about/outcomes/

Outcomes

Improvements in Physical Stress in over 5500 people in just 6-9 weeks using HeartMath training and technology · 44% improvement in body aches (joint pain, back ...

5.

heartmath.org

heartmath.org/articles-of-the-heart/heartmath-resilience-advantage-program/

HeartMath Resilience Advantage Program

Results and Impact: Key Outcomes ; Overall Stress, 37% decrease, Scores dropped from 11.69 to 7.41 (15-pt scale) ; Emotional Stress, 24% decrease ...

6.

heartmath.org

heartmath.org/general/measuring-workplace-stress-in-a-new-way/

Measuring Workplace Stress – In A New Way

This software program collects pulse data and translates the information from a subject's heart rhythms into user-friendly graphics, allowing ...

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4890098/

Resilience Training Program Reduces Physiological and ...

Officers experienced reductions in stress, negative emotions, depression, and increased peacefulness and vitality as compared to a control group.

8.

ijrd.csw.fsu.edu

ijrd.csw.fsu.edu/randomized-controlled-trial-heartmath-resilience-program-exploring-impact-stress-jail-staff

Exploring the Impact of Stress on Jail Staff Performance and ...

The HeartMath program aims to reduce stress by teaching COs techniques to achieve "heart rhythm coherence," which helps the body self-regulate under stressful ...