Title : Mitigating burnout and suicide risk in workaholics: Evaluating HRV biofeedback as a workplace intervention
Abstract:
Background: Workaholism—defined as compulsive, excessive work engagement and inability to detach— has been linked to chronic stress, burnout, and elevated suicide risk. Traditional workplace mental health programs often neglect autonomic nervous system dysregulation, a key psychophysiological mechanism underlying these outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) biofeedback as a psychophysiological intervention aimed at reducing burnout symptoms and suicide risk in workaholic professionals.
Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed studies was conducted, examining in-person, remote, and VR-supported HRV biofeedback interventions in high-stress occupational populations. Key outcome measures included HRV indices (SDNN, RMSSD, LF/HF ratio), self-reported stress and burnout, emotional resilience markers, and suicide-related physiological biomarkers.
Results:
- A structured five-session HRV-BF protocol significantly improved HRV metrics and reduced stress among frontline healthcare workers during COVID-19.
- Remote daily HRV-BF sessions enhanced autonomic regulation and psychological well-being in health professionals.
- VR-enhanced HRV-BF interventions yielded measurable reductions in fatigue, elevated mindfulness, and improved quality of life.
- Lower baseline RMSSD negatively correlated with suicide risk in psychiatric cohorts,
- indicating HRV’s biomarker potential.
- Cross-sectional research consistently demonstrated inverse associations between HRV and occupational burnout.
Conclusion: HRV biofeedback is a promising, scalable intervention that enhances autonomic resilience and reduces burnout and potential suicidality in workaholic professionals. We advocate for its integration within organizational wellness and employee assistance programs. Further longitudinal, controlled research is necessary to optimize HRV-BF protocols tailored to workaholic subpopulations and to establish long-term efficacy.
Keywords: Workaholism; HRV biofeedback; Burnout prevention; Suicide risk; Occupational mental health; Workplace intervention; Autonomic regulation.
