Trial reportBMC complementary and alternative medicine2017
Effects of hyperthermic baths on depression, sleep and heart rate variability in patients with depressive disorder: a randomized clinical pilot trial.
Trial report in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07564440 (Clinical and Biological Safety Study of the BTT Hyperthermia in Adult Subjects), which is not on this map. Cited by 17 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Clinical and Biological Safety Study of the BTT Hyperthermia in Adult Subjects
Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 51 citations in OpenAlex.
- The antidepressant effect of whole-body hyperthermia is associated with the classical interleukin-6 signaling pathway.Brain, behavior, and immunity · 2024Trial
- The Impact on the Stress-Associated Autonomic Response of Physiotherapy Students Receiving Interferential Current in an Electrotherapy Training Session.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Trial
- Effects and feasibility of hyperthermic baths in comparison to exercise as add-on treatment to usual care in depression: a randomised, controlled pilot study.BMC psychiatry · 2020Trial
- The effects of inpatient versus outpatient spa therapy on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in elderly patients with generalized osteoarthritis: a pilot study.International journal of biometeorology · 2018Trial
- Thermoregulation in Sleep Disorders-Comprehensive Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Sauna use as a novel management approach for cardiovascular health and peripheral arterial disease.Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2025Review
- Greater severity of depressive symptoms is associated with changes to perceived sweating, preferred ambient temperature, and warmth-seeking behavior.Temperature (Austin, Tex.) · 2024Article
- Hot water immersion as a potential substitute for strength training during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in physiology · 2023Article
- Hot water immersion could be an effective alternative to physical exercise in improving cardiovascular fitness during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in physiology · 2022Article
- Effect of Physiotherapy Treatment in the Autonomic Activation and Pain Perception in Male Patients with Non-Specific Subacute Low Back Pain.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Heart Rate Variability Monitoring during Interferential Current Application in the Lower Back Area: A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Feature of Heart Rate Variability and Metabolic Mechanism in Female College Students with Depression.BioMed research international · 2020Article
- Gender Differences in Geriatric Depressive Symptoms in Rural China: The Role of Physical Housing Environments and Living Arrangements.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
- Whole-Body Heating: An Emerging Therapeutic Approach to Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder.Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing) · 2018Review
- Bibliography: Emerging Therapies in Psychiatry.Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing) · 2018Article
- Article
- A Randomized Trial Testing a Novel Mind and Body Intervention for Depression: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Whole-Body Hyperthermia (WBH).Global advances in integrative medicine and healthArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite advances in the treatment of depression, one-third of depressed patients fail to respond to conventional antidepressant medication. There is a need for more effective treatments with fewer side effects. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether hyperthermic baths reduce depressive symptoms in adults with depressive disorder.
methodsRandomized, two-arm placebo-controlled, 8-week pilot trial. Medically stable outpatients with confirmed depressive disorder (ICD-10: F32/F33) who were moderately depressed as determined by the 17-item Hamilton Scale for Depression (HAM-D) score ≥18 were randomly assigned to 2 hyperthermic baths (40 °C) per week for 4 weeks or a sham intervention with green light and follow-up after 4 weeks. Main outcome measure was the change in HAM-D
resultsA total of 36 patients were randomized (hyperthermic baths, n = 17; sham condition, n = 19). The intention-to-treat analysis showed a significant (P = .037) difference in the change in HAM-D
conclusionsThis pilot study suggests that hyperthermic baths do have generalized efficacy in depressed patients.
trial registrationDRKS00004803 at drks-neu.uniklinik-freiburg.de, German Clinical Trials Register (registration date 2016-02-02), retrospectively registered.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.