Cited by 372Respiratory and Cough-Related ResearchPsychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsAsthma and respiratory diseases

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 67 of the 67 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 33 of the 98 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Dysfunctional breathing: a review of the literature and proposal for classification

Open access
Boulding, Richard, Stacey, Rebecca, Niven, Rob, Fowler, Stephen J.·2016·European Respiratory Review

Abstract

Dysfunctional breathing is a term describing breathing disorders where chronic changes in breathing pattern result in dyspnoea and other symptoms in the absence or in excess of the magnitude of physiological respiratory or cardiac disease. We reviewed the literature and propose a classification system for the common dysfunctional breathing patterns described. The literature was searched using the terms: dysfunctional breathing, hyperventilation, Nijmegen questionnaire and thoraco-abdominal asynchrony. We have summarised the presentation, assessment and treatment of dysfunctional breathing, and propose that the following system be used for classification. 1) Hyperventilation syndrome: associated with symptoms both related to respiratory alkalosis and independent of hypocapnia. 2) Periodic deep sighing: frequent sighing with an irregular breathing pattern. 3) Thoracic dominant breathing: can often manifest in somatic disease, if occurring without disease it may be considered dysfunctional and results in dyspnoea. 4) Forced abdominal expiration: these patients utilise inappropriate and excessive abdominal muscle contraction to aid expiration. 5) Thoraco-abdominal asynchrony: where there is delay between rib cage and abdominal contraction resulting in ineffective breathing mechanics. This review highlights the common abnormalities, current diagnostic methods and therapeutic implications in dysfunctional breathing. Future work should aim to further investigate the prevalence, clinical associations and treatment of these presentations.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Dysfunctional breathing describes chronic abnormal breathing patterns causing dyspnoea and other symptoms in the absence of, or out of proportion to, organic disease. The authors review the literature and propose five categories: hyperventilation syndrome, periodic deep sighing, thoracic dominant breathing, forced abdominal expiration, and thoraco-abdominal asynchrony.

Key findings

  • The literature search returned 115 papers, of which 59 were considered relevant; the proposed classification is based on the reviewed literature and clinical experience.
  • Hyperventilation syndrome is the most studied pattern (43 papers in the proposed table), with estimated prevalence around 6–10% in the general population and 29% in asthmatics; one validation study found approximately 34% in asthmatics, while asthmatic children were around 5%.
  • The Nijmegen questionnaire was validated with sensitivity 91% and specificity 95%, and a score >23 is commonly used as a cut-off, although the original gold standard (hyperventilation provocation test) is no longer considered reliable.
  • The other proposed patterns have far less evidence: periodic deep sighing (12 papers), thoracic dominant breathing (4), forced abdominal expiration (2), and thoraco-abdominal asynchrony (6); no prevalence data are available for these patterns.

Methods

  • Narrative literature review: PubMed and Embase were searched using the terms dysfunctional breathing, hyperventilation, Nijmegen questionnaire, and thoraco-abdominal asynchrony.
  • The authors summarise presentation, assessment, and treatment, then propose a classification system for common dysfunctional breathing patterns.
  • The proposal is based on the reviewed literature and the authors’ clinical experience; the paper does not report a formal systematic review, meta-analysis, or primary data collection.

Limitations

  • The paper states there is no formal definition of dysfunctional breathing and no gold standard diagnostic method, making prevalence and research interpretation difficult.
  • It states the Nijmegen questionnaire was developed and validated only in exercise-induced hyperventilation syndrome but has been extrapolated inappropriately to other forms and settings; many studies had low sample sizes, mixed breathing patterns, and likely publication bias.
  • Treatment evidence is described as limited and largely uncontrolled, with most published treatment proposals targeted at hyperventilation syndrome and not necessarily appropriate for other proposed patterns; no prevalence data exist for non-hyperventilation patterns.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1183/16000617.0088-2015

Cites

67 of 67 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

FIGURE 1 Recordings of quiet tidal breathing at rest, followed by maximal expiration then inspiration. Breathing patterns are shown for: a) a healthy volunteer; b) hyperventilation syndrome, note the rapid respiratory rate, and tidal breathing closer to inspiratory capacity than in panel a; c) erratic breathing pattern, note that the patient was unable to coordinate a maximal expiratory and inspiratory manoeuvre at the end of the recording; d) thoracic dominant breathing, note the large volume breaths with minimal inspiratory reserve capacity; e) forced expiratory pattern before (grey) and after (black) exercise, note tidal breathing occurs at low lung volumes, with minimal expiratory reserve volume; and f) thoraco-abdominal asynchrony, this panel shows recordings from sensors detecting thoracic and abdominal movement, demonstrating asynchrony during quiet tidal breathing.
FIGURE 1 Recordings of quiet tidal breathing at rest, followed by maximal expiration then inspiration. Breathing patterns are shown for: a) a healthy volunteer; b) hyperventilation syndrome, note the rapid respiratory rate, and tidal breathing closer to inspiratory capacity than in panel a; c) erratic breathing pattern, note that the patient was unable to coordinate a maximal expiratory and inspiratory manoeuvre at the end of the recording; d) thoracic dominant breathing, note the large volume breaths with minimal inspiratory reserve capacity; e) forced expiratory pattern before (grey) and after (black) exercise, note tidal breathing occurs at low lung volumes, with minimal expiratory reserve volume; and f) thoraco-abdominal asynchrony, this panel shows recordings from sensors detecting thoracic and abdominal movement, demonstrating asynchrony during quiet tidal breathing.CC BY-NC · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

30 No full text of the sources · 28 No basis given · 24 Own interpretation · 15 Partly supported · 4 Supported so far · 3 Supported · 3 Couldn’t confirm · 2 Not supported · 2 Not checked yet · 1 Own result · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 1 references — free account

Show all 44 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 49
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 35
68 of 68
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Dysfunctional breathing patterns occur in some patients with COPD and interstitial lung disease.

    “A clear link between dysfunctional breathing and other respiratory diseases has not been made in the literature, but in our experience dysfunctional breathing patterns do occur in some patients with diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Efficient breathing requires coordination between the diaphragm, abdominal muscles and muscles of the rib cage.

    “Efficient breathing requires coordination between the diaphragm, abdominal muscles and muscles of the rib cage.”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Citations

Cites

Show all 67 references

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. van Dixhoorn, 1997, Hyperventilation and dysfunctional breathing, Biol Psychol, 46, 90

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Metadata

Authors
Boulding, R., Stacey, R., Niven, R., & Fowler, S. J.
Affiliations
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
Venue
European Respiratory Review
Published
2016-08-31
Volume
25
Issue
141
Pages
287-294
ISSN
  • 0905-9180 (ISSN-L)
  • 1600-0617
OpenAlex
W2510142779
Cited by
372
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 46 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 9
FWCI
13.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • European Respiratory Review (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Respiratory and Cough-Related Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Asthma and respiratory diseases
Keywords
dysfunctional breathing, hyperventilation syndrome, dyspnea, respiratory alkalosis, hypocapnia, Nijmegen questionnaire, breathing pattern classification, breathing disorders
MeSH terms
Dyspnea, Humans, Lung, Terminology as Topic, Predictive Value of Tests, Respiration Disorders, Risk Factors, Respiratory Mechanics, Comorbidity

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