Hot Water Immersion Therapy for Mental Health (WITHME)

Lakehead University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Heat; Post-traumatic Stress Disorder; Water Immersion; Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Treatments: Procedure: lower-limb hot water immersion

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04793542

1468218

Details and patient eligibility

About

In 2016, it was estimated that nearly 1 billion people worldwide were affected by a mental or addictive disorder, and were associated with considerable excess mortality. Acute heat therapy sessions (e.g. whole-body heating or foot immersions) have been shown to improve symptoms in individuals diagnosed with common mental health illness such as major depressive disorders and reduce anxiety.

This study will assess the impact of an at-home 8-week lower-limb immersion in hot water on symptom severity in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD.

Enrollment: 150 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Over 18 years of age
• Diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Internet access (e.g. via smartphone, computer)
• Currently engaging in mental health treatment

Exclusion criteria

• Free of any mental health disorder
• Not engaging in regular mental health treatment
• Diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic disorder)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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150 participants in 3 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Lukewarm Water

Sham Comparator group

Treatment:

Procedure: lower-limb hot water immersion

Hot Water

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Procedure: lower-limb hot water immersion