Whole-Body Hyperthermia for Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Summary
This study aims to examine the scientific mechanisms of whole-body hyperthermia (WBH), a novel, rapidly acting, single session antidepressant and anxiolytic therapy. It also aims to determine its feasibility and acceptability in women with postpartum depression (PPD). The study will enroll four cohorts of participants: healthy postpartum controls; postpartum women with PPD; healthy adult controls; and adults with major depressive disorder or anxiety disorders in a longitudinal protocol.
Description
Whole-body hyperthermia has already been shown to be feasible, acceptable, and effective in major depressive disorder (MDD) populations, with an open-label study and a subsequent randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study both demonstrating efficacy. Some evidence indicates that the antidepressant effect may be due to immune mechanisms, though it may also be mediated through direct neural effects of hyperthermia This project aims to establish a protocol to deliver WBH therapy to patients with mood and anxiety disorders to collect information about scientific mechanisms. It also seeks to…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria * Study Group 2 * Arm 1: Healthy women or transgender men 18-50 years of age, ≤ 6 months postpartum * Arm 2: Women and transgender men 18-50 years of age, ≤ 6 months postpartum, meeting criteria for a major depressive episode in the postpartum period on the MINI. * Arm 3: Healthy adults of both sexes 18-50 years of age. * Arm 4: Adults of both sexes 18-50 years of age meeting criteria for an episode of major depression or generalized anxiety disorder on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) * Study Group 3 * Subjects enrolled in Study Group 2…
Interventions
- OtherWhole-Body Hyperthermia
The Clearlight dome sauna is portable infrared sauna consisting of two lightweight domes and an infrared heating pad. The sauna will be used to deliver the intervention to the participant and the sauna session will end as soon as (1) an internal body temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F) is reached for two consecutive minutes or, (2) 140 minutes have passed.
- Diagnostic TestfMRI
A standard magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine will be used to take images of the brain.
Location
- Weill Cornell MedicineNew York, New York