Effects of Safe and Sound Protocol on self-reported autonomic reactivity, anxiety, and depression in speech therapy clients with voice, throat, and breathing complaints

SSP in Speech Therapy Clients

Authors

  • Heleen Grooten-Bresser Practice for Voice, Breathing and Trauma Therapy. Gennep Netherlands, voorz pvi NL
  • Keri J. Heilman University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, CB 7160, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-0000, USA; Indiana University, Socioneural Physiology Laboratory, Traumatic Stress Research Consortium (TSRC), 509 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN, 47401-3654, US.
  • Piet G. C. Kooijman Radboud University Medical Centre (Radboudumc), Department Ear, Nose and Throat; Department of Rehabilitation. Nijmegen, Netherlands. (Retired)
  • Elisa Monti Voice and Trauma Research and Connection Group, Inc. 1350 Avenue of the Americas (2nd floor), New York, NY, 10019, United States
  • Mickey N. Chenault Maastricht University, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Health, Ethics and Society, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands
  • Logan G. Holmes Indiana University, Socioneural Physiology Laboratory, Traumatic Stress Research Consortium (TSRC), 509 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN, 47401-3654, US.
  • Olivia Resto The New School for Social Research, 80 Fifth Avenue (6th floor), New York, NY, 10011, United States

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47513/mmd.v16i2.944

Keywords:

Voice and throat complaints, Medically unexplained symptoms, anxiety, depression, autonomic function

Abstract

Medically unexplained oto-rhino-laryngeal symptoms (MUORLS) may have a pathophysiology related to brain-body state regulation.  We use predictions from the Polyvagal Theory to investigate whether clients with voice problems have increased autonomic reactivity, anxiety, and depression. Study 1 included 54 clients with MUORLS, and a comparison group of 26 individuals without MUORLS.  Outcome measures were anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), autonomic reactivity (Body Perception Questionnaire Short Form, BPQ-SF), and extent of voice handicap (The Voice Handicap Index, VHI) for the clients.  The client group scored higher than the control group in supra-diaphragmatic reactivity, but there were no group differences in other measures. To extend the findings of Study 1, a feasibility study (Study 2) evaluated the effects of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a Polyvagal-informed protocol, on the same outcome measures.   Study 2 included 33 clients with self-reported voice and throat complaints. Outcome measures assessed pre- and post-SSP were anxiety and depression (HADS) and autonomic reactivity (BPQ-SF).  Results demonstrated a significant decrease in anxiety, depression, and autonomic reactivity post-SSP.  In conclusion, a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie MUORLS may provide guidance for using neurophysiologically based interventions, such as SSP, that target autonomic state regulation.

Author Biographies

Heleen Grooten-Bresser , Practice for Voice, Breathing and Trauma Therapy. Gennep Netherlands, voorz pvi NL

Heleen Grooten-Bresser has been involved in research and private practice for voice-breathing communication and trauma therapy since 1979, with expertise in Somatic Experiencing (SEP), breathing- and voice therapies, and family constellations. 

Keri J. Heilman, University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, CB 7160, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-0000, USA; Indiana University, Socioneural Physiology Laboratory, Traumatic Stress Research Consortium (TSRC), 509 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN, 47401-3654, US.

Keri Heilman is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, and a researcher at the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at the Indiana University. 

Piet G. C. Kooijman, Radboud University Medical Centre (Radboudumc), Department Ear, Nose and Throat; Department of Rehabilitation. Nijmegen, Netherlands. (Retired)

Piet G.C. Kooijman (SLP) is a logopedic therapist, specialized in Voice Disorders, who was employed for 37 years at Radboud University Medical Centre (Radboudumc).

Elisa Monti, Voice and Trauma Research and Connection Group, Inc. 1350 Avenue of the Americas (2nd floor), New York, NY, 10019, United States

Elisa Monti is a psychologist and researcher from the New School for Social Research, a certified Performance Wellness Therapist and Vocal Psychotherapist.

Mickey N. Chenault, Maastricht University, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Health, Ethics and Society, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands

Michelene (Mickey) Chenault is a statistician who has taught and participated in research projects at Maastricht University since 1988.

Logan G. Holmes, Indiana University, Socioneural Physiology Laboratory, Traumatic Stress Research Consortium (TSRC), 509 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN, 47401-3654, US.

Logan Holmes is a Research Associate at the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Indiana University, specializing in programming and data management.

Olivia Resto, The New School for Social Research, 80 Fifth Avenue (6th floor), New York, NY, 10011, United States

Olivia Resto is a second-year clinical psychology doctoral student at the New School for Social Research, interested in how dissociation and trauma manifest within the body.

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Published

2024-04-28

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2024): Music and Medicine April

Section

Full Length Articles