ArticleFrontiers in psychiatry2025
Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of cold-water exposure on mental health.
Article in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Cold-water exposure and psychological outcomes in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Pooled it
- Mindfulness training combined with cold water immersion effects on mood and perception of executive functioning in middle-aged and older adults: a pilot study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Cold-water exposure has gained increasing popularity as a self-applied intervention for improving mental health and psychological well-being. While anecdotal evidence and popular media suggest potential benefits for reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, the scientific evidence supporting these claims remains fragmented. This protocol outlines the methodology for a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to critically appraise and synthesize the available evidence on the effects of CWE on mental health outcomes in adult populations, including both healthy individuals and those with clinical conditions. The review will examine both psychological variables and physiological stress markers in response to cold-water exposure interventions. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search will be conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science. Eligible studies will include randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials without randomization, cohort studies, and case-control studies. Risk of bias will be assessed using RoB1 for randomized controlled trials, ROBINS-I for non-randomized intervention studies, and ROBINS-E for observational studies. Random-effects meta-analyses will be conducted where sufficient data are available. The review will provide a structured quantitative synthesis of cold-water exposure's effects on mental health, helping to bridge the gap between popular claims and empirical evidence. The findings will inform future research, public health guidelines, and the development of safe and effective cold-water exposure protocols for clinical and wellness applications.
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Registered trials
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