Whole-body hyperthermia for the treatment of major depressive disorder
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
MDD continues to pervade our population with staggering numbers, and due to the inefficacy of pharmacology in treating MDD, the discovery of sauna’s antidepressant effects was a major breakthrough.
About the study
This study breaks down the neurological mechanisms involved in the heat activated antidepressant-like responses from sauna therapy, even comparing the magnitude of immediate benefits to those of ketamine, another promising depression treatment.
Warm-sensitive thermosensory pathways projecting from the skin (and other epithelial linings) to specific subcortical and cortical regions affect neural activity and behavior in ways relevant to the treatment of MDD. Exposure to cutaneous heating (41°C/106°F) activates the mid orbitofrontal cortex, the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex, and the ventral striatum, which are important brain regions implicated in emotional processing and mood regulation, among others.
In this randomized clinical trial, when compared with a sham-control condition, a single session of whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) produced a significant antidepressant effect apparent within a week of treatment that persisted for 6 weeks after treatment.
