Efficacy of the Whole-Body Cryotherapy as Add-on Therapy to Pharmacological Treatment of Depression—A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Accumulating evidence indicates the effectiveness of cryogenic temperature interventions in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and chronic low back pain. The application of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) in psychiatric aspects of medicine was also noted. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms explaining the beneficial effect of WBC on mood disorders remain unclear. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of repetitive short exposure to extremely low temperatures (WBC) on mood, quality of life as well as on biochemical measures among people diagnosed with depressive episode undergoing pharmacological treatment. Materials and Methods: Prospective randomized, double-blind sham-controlled protocol was used. The study enrolled 92 medically stable adults (aged 20-73 years) with a diagnosis of a depressive episode. The participants were randomly allocated and exposed to 10 whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) sessions (−110°C till −160°C [the experimental group (EG)] or to low, but not cryogenic temperatures −50°C [the control group (CG)]. Thirty participants in the EG and 26 in CG completed the whole study. The primary outcome measures were depressive symptoms evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) as well as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D 17). The quality of life, quality of sexual life, acceptance of the disease and self-reported mood, vitality, and sleep quality were assessed as secondary outcome measures. The study was registered at Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619001600134). Results: The results show evidence for a statistically significant difference in the clinical assessment of depressive symptoms according to HAM-D 17 scale (T4 by group interaction p=0.02), BDI-II (T2 time by group interaction p=0.01), cognitive-affective BDI dimension (T4 by group interaction p=0.00), and somatic BDI dimension (T4 by group

Whole Body Cryotherapy and Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment: New Biological Treatment of Depression? A Systematic Review

“…In the second randomized and double-blind study from the same clinical site, conducted by Rymaszewska et al, the effectiveness of repeated short exposures to extremely low temperatures was assessed through the use of WBC on mood, quality of life, and biochemical parameters among outpatients with the diagnosis of depression who were treated pharmacologically [ 16 ]. The study involved 92 participants, aged 20–73 years, diagnosed with a depressive episode according to ICD-10.…”

“…The criterion of recovery at the T4 visit was met by 66.7% in the study group and 57.14% in the reference group ( p = 0.55). Finally, the researchers concluded that WBC is an effective method supporting the pharmacological treatment of depression, and has a positive effect on the well-being and quality of life of people suffering from depression [ 16 ].…”

“…Research is also needed on the mechanism responsible for the improvement of the mental state of patients suffering from depression and treated with WBC, as it is so far unknown; it is possible that the mechanism of WBC is related to its previously demonstrated immune-modulatory effect [ 15 , 19 , 21 ]. Interestingly, in one of the studies analyzed, the level of IL-6 and IL-10 as well as TAS was not confirmed for the changes observed in the treatment of somatic patients [ 16 ]. Perhaps it is related to the disturbances in the immune system already existing in patients with depression, these results, however, require replication in subsequent studies of the effectiveness of WBC in depression.…”

The Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training Combined With Whole Body Cryotherapy in Improving Cognitive Functions in Older Adults. A Case Control Study

“…CCT is believed to induce the formation of new neuronal connections (neuroplasticity) and maintain the already existing pathways, while, WBC targets the neurodegenerative process by means of regulating the production of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 (55), nitric oxide (NO) (22). These mediators are released as a consequence of amyloidbeta deposition and the inflammatory response caused by the deposits.…”

“…Systematic review revealed that WBC may exert beneficial effects on the lipid profile in terms of lowering the levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides (21). Preliminary studies suggest that it may also be an effective method of improving cognitive functioning, especially memory processes (22). According to current knowledge, vascular malfunction, mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress and inflammatory response contribute to the development of cognitive deterioration, and WBC might be a response to these processes (20, [23][24][25][26].…”