Breath-hold time and anxiety-related vulnerability: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Biol PsycholJun 9, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry

Maragda Puigcerver, Miguel Ángel Serrano

✦ AI-curated · Sources linked

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated maximal voluntary breath-holding time (mvBHT) as a marker of interoceptive tolerance in anxiety disorders, involving 1263 adults. Results indicated that individuals with anxiety disorders exhibited shorter mvBHT compared to healthy controls, particularly in panic disorder, highlighting its potential as a behavioral index of anxiety-related vulnerability.

Key findings

  • Adults with anxiety disorders showed significantly shorter mvBHT than healthy controls.
  • The reduction in mvBHT was medium-sized in panic disorder with low heterogeneity.
  • Significant associations were found between mvBHT and state anxiety during respiratory challenges.
  • Higher proportions of females in healthy control samples predicted shorter mean mvBHT.

Why it matters

Understanding the relationship between breath-holding time and anxiety can help clinicians assess interoceptive tolerance in patients. This may inform treatment approaches for anxiety disorders by providing a measurable behavioral index.

Source

PubMed · PMID 42264026

Published in Biol Psychol. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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