Anxiety, anger, salivary cortisol and cardiac autonomic activity in palliative care professionals with and without mind–body training experience: Results from a pilot study

IntroductionPalliative care practitioners suffer a considerable burden of stress. Although it is not possible to eliminate stress entirely, people can learn to manage it. Mind/body intervention helps individuals turn maladaptive responses to stress into more adaptive ones. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of mind–body techniques in a group of palliative care professionals.MethodsWe investigated anxiety, anger, baseline salivary cortisol levels immediately after awakening and autonomic nervous system activity in a group of health care professionals from a Palliative Care Unit (n = 22). In addition, we assessed the autonomic response to relaxation instructions. The participants were divided into two groups according to their regular practice of mind–body techniques.ResultsNo significant differences between groups were found for anxiety and anger. Baseline salivary cortisol levels were significantly greater in the untrained group (5.23 ± 5.16 μg/dl) when compared with the trained one (0.57 ± 0.19 μg/dl) (Mann–Whitney U test = 0; p < 0.001). When comparing heart rate variability (HRV) values during relaxation with HRV values at rest within each group, trained subjects showed a significant increase in LF% (z = −2.073, p = 0.038), while untrained subjects showed a significant increase in HF% (z = −2.100, p = 0.036).ConclusionsSubjects who regularly practice mind–body techniques evidenced lower baseline morning cortisol levels and achieved a differential autonomic response to relaxation instructions.