H3 Method mark H3 Method

Active research Protocol-validation phase

Research & Evidence

The H3 Method is being evaluated through a pre/post EEG and HRV intervention study. The page below tracks design, status, instruments, and theoretical foundations.

Outcome claims will be updated after analysis is complete. The method is not yet a validated treatment claim — citations and outcomes will become available after peer-reviewed publication.

Current study

Active study

Effects of the H3 Method on EEG Regulation in Anxiety: A Pre/Post Intervention Study

Status
Data collection phase
Design
Three-arm parallel design (G1 control / G2 active comparator with dismantling design / G3 full H3 protocol)
Targeted sample
N ≈ 154 participants (final N to be confirmed after analysis)
Instruments
DASS-21, QEEG / brain mapping, HRV (RMSSD, SDNN)
Timeline
Baseline (T0) → Intervention period → Post-intervention (T1) → Follow-up (T2)
Registration
To be published upon study completion.
Publication target
After completion of data analysis.

How measurement is handled

Why the protocol stays conservative about what HRV and EEG can — and cannot — say.

Transparent HRV indicators
The protocol prioritizes physiological indicators with established interpretation in peer-reviewed literature (RMSSD, SDNN) over proprietary composite scores. Composite scores from device reports are recorded as descriptive context, not treated as primary outcomes.
HRV is a physiological signal
HRV is sensitive to timing, posture, recent stimulation, sleep, and other contextual factors. The protocol documents measurement conditions rather than ignoring them, so that real-world variation can be handled transparently in analysis rather than concealed.
Primary vs. confirmatory outcomes
The study distinguishes primary autonomic outcomes from confirmatory, descriptive, and control measures. This separation is specified before analysis to avoid retrospective re-framing of findings.
Cautious comparator framing
Comparator conditions are interpreted cautiously. The study is not framed as H3 versus nothing; it is a structured comparison designed to isolate what the full H3 protocol adds beyond shared baseline elements.
Status, not conclusion
Outcome and efficacy language remains conservative until analysis is complete. The page above reflects design and status; results will be reported separately and only after peer-reviewed publication.

Theoretical foundations

Selected references informing the H3 framework. Not an exhaustive list.

  1. Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. W. W. Norton .

  2. Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press .

  3. Lehrer, P. M., & Gevirtz, R. (2014). Heart rate variability biofeedback: How and why does it work?. Frontiers in Psychology , 5, 756. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00756

  4. Borkovec, T. D., & Sibrava, N. J. (2005). Problems with the use of placebo conditions in psychotherapy research, suggested alternatives, and some strategies for the pursuit of the placebo phenomenon. Journal of Clinical Psychology , 61(7), 805–818. doi:10.1002/jclp.20127

  5. Andrade, J., Kavanagh, D., & Baddeley, A. (1997). Eye-movements and visual imagery: A working memory approach to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. British Journal of Clinical Psychology , 36(2), 209–223. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.1997.tb01408.x

  6. Lee, C. W., & Cuijpers, P. (2013). A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry , 44(2), 231–239. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2012.11.001

Pre-registration and analysis plan

Pre-registration and analysis plan will be made available upon study completion.

Frequently asked

Is the H3 Method evidence-based? +

The framework is currently being evaluated through structured research. Outcome data is in collection. We use the term "evidence-informed" until peer-reviewed publication is complete.

How does H3 relate to EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, or Polyvagal-informed therapy? +

H3 is compatible with but distinct from each. It does not use bilateral stimulation as a mechanism, it includes cortical and behavioral domains in addition to autonomic ones, and it relies on instrumentation rather than narrative titration alone.

Can I cite H3 in my clinical work? +

The published method abstract may be cited as a working framework. Outcome citations will be available post-publication.