Whole-Body Hyperthermia for Mood and Anxiety Disorders

July 30, 2025 updated by: Weill Medical College of Cornell University
This study aims to examine the scientific mechanisms of whole-body hyperthermia (WBH), a novel, rapidly acting, single session antidepressant and anxiolytic therapy. It also aims to determine its feasibility and acceptability in women with postpartum depression (PPD). The study will enroll four cohorts of participants: healthy postpartum controls; postpartum women with PPD; healthy adult controls; and adults with major depressive disorder or anxiety disorders in a longitudinal protocol.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Whole-body hyperthermia has already been shown to be feasible, acceptable, and effective in major depressive disorder (MDD) populations, with an open-label study and a subsequent randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study both demonstrating efficacy. Some evidence indicates that the antidepressant effect may be due to immune mechanisms, though it may also be mediated through direct neural effects of hyperthermia

This project aims to establish a protocol to deliver WBH therapy to patients with mood and anxiety disorders to collect information about scientific mechanisms. It also seeks to extend treatment to a specific population: a single session WBH treatment could be of tremendous interest to depressed postpartum women who wish to avoid medications and time away from their infants.

The mechanistic work will be completed with the four cohorts. By examining mechanisms in all four groups, investigators will be able to determine mechanisms unique to ill individuals as well as any mechanistic differences between MDD and PPD. In addition, the investigators aim to establish feasibility and acceptability of this protocol in postpartum women. Why? Over 80% of women deliver a child, and 15-20% of all women develop significant postpartum mental illness, usually depression and anxiety.

Participants will be divided into two groups: those undergoing a simplified protocol to test feasibility and acceptability in the postpartum (Study Group 1) and those undergoing a more time-intensive protocol to evaluate mechanisms (Study Group 2). In addition, participants in Study Group 2 will be eligible to enroll in a sub-study (Study Group 3) including up to 10 fMRI session.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

240

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  • Study Group 2

    • Arm 1: Healthy women or transgender men 18-50 years of age, ≤ 6 months postpartum
    • Arm 2: Women and transgender men 18-50 years of age, ≤ 6 months postpartum, meeting criteria for a major depressive episode in the postpartum period on the MINI.
    • Arm 3: Healthy adults of both sexes 18-50 years of age.
    • Arm 4: Adults of both sexes 18-50 years of age meeting criteria for an episode of major depression or generalized anxiety disorder on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)

  • Study Group 3

    • Subjects enrolled in Study Group 2 are eligible for an optional additional sub-study (Study Group 3); inclusion criteria are the same as for Study Group 2.

Exclusion criteria for all:

  • For logistics, we will exclude individuals with BMI >30 and waist size > 35, who may not fit comfortably in the sauna dome for all cohorts described above.
  • For contraindications to hyperthermia, we will exclude from all cohorts listed above, individuals with severe cardiovascular disease, including congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, uncontrolled hypertension, and hypotension; pregnancy; active substance use disorders; recent major injuries or surgeries (<1 week prior); impaired sweating (those with multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus with neuropathy, central nervous system disease, heat insensitivity); a history or family history of malignant hyperthermia, fever or active signs of infection; taking medications that may have interactions with hyperthermia (for example, barbiturates, diuretics, and beta blockers) and the use of an antipyretic or anihistamine medication in the 12 hours prior to the WBH intervention. Individuals with above mentioned conditions will be excluded since either WBH might deteriorate their conditions or it is unknown how their condition will be affected by WBH.
  • For contraindications to immune analyses, we will exclude individuals with conditions that might affect immune analyses, including individuals with known active autoimmune or endocrine disease and individuals with active infection at baseline.

Additional exclusion criteria by cohort or applicable study group:

  • Study Group 2

    • Arm 1: For psychiatric contraindications, we will exclude individuals with a history of psychiatric disorders as assessed by MINI since the cohort will consist of mentally healthy individuals as a control group.
    • Arm 2: For psychiatric contraindications, we will exclude individuals with bipolar disorder or other Axis I psychiatric disorders except depressive and anxiety disorders and individuals taking antidepressants who are unwilling to hold antidepressant dose steady from recruitment through study termination. In this cohort we exclude individuals with other psychiatric disorders except depressive and anxiety disorders to rule out the effect of other psychiatric diseases on the outcome.
    • Arm 3: For psychiatric contraindications, we will exclude individuals with a history of psychiatric disorders as assessed by MINI since the cohort will consist of mentally healthy individuals as a control group.
    • Arm 4: For psychiatric contraindications, we will exclude individuals with bipolar disorder or other Axis I psychiatric disorders except depressive and anxiety disorders and individuals taking antidepressants who are unwilling to hold antidepressant dose steady from recruitment through study termination. In this cohort we exclude individuals with other psychiatric disorders except depressive and anxiety disorders to rule out the effect of other psychiatric diseases on the outcome.

  • Study Group 2 and Study Group 3 - All participants

    • For contraindications to use of the e-Celsius capsule that will be used to measure core temperature, we will exclude individuals with pacemakers or any other electric medical implant, individuals with a current intestinal disorder that could lead to obstruction of the digestive tract including gastroparesis, individuals with history of diverticula, individuals with history of past surgical procedures in the gastrointestinal tract, individuals with a swallowing disorder and individuals with Crohn's disease.

  • Study Group 3 - All participants

    • For contraindications to MRI, individuals with metal in the body will be excluded from participating in the MRI portion of the research since magnetic fields in MRI scanners can cause dangerous interactions in patients with metallic foreign bodies: projectile effect, twisting, burning, artifacts, and device malfunction (interference with a pacemaker).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group 2 - Cohort 2a
Healthy women or transgender men 18-50 years of age, <6 months postpartum
Other: Whole-Body Hyperthermia
The Clearlight dome sauna is portable infrared sauna consisting of two lightweight domes and an infrared heating pad. The sauna will be used to deliver the intervention to the participant and the sauna session will end as soon as (1) an internal body temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F) is reached for two consecutive minutes or, (2) 140 minutes have passed.
Other Names:
  • Clearlight Portable Dome Sauna
Experimental: Group 2 - Cohort 2b
Women and transgender men 18-50 years of age, <6 months postpartum, meeting criteria for a major depressive episode in the postpartum period on the MINI
Other: Whole-Body Hyperthermia
The Clearlight dome sauna is portable infrared sauna consisting of two lightweight domes and an infrared heating pad. The sauna will be used to deliver the intervention to the participant and the sauna session will end as soon as (1) an internal body temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F) is reached for two consecutive minutes or, (2) 140 minutes have passed.
Other Names:
  • Clearlight Portable Dome Sauna
Experimental: Group 2 - Cohort 2c
Healthy adults of both sexes 18-50 years of age
Other: Whole-Body Hyperthermia
The Clearlight dome sauna is portable infrared sauna consisting of two lightweight domes and an infrared heating pad. The sauna will be used to deliver the intervention to the participant and the sauna session will end as soon as (1) an internal body temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F) is reached for two consecutive minutes or, (2) 140 minutes have passed.
Other Names:
  • Clearlight Portable Dome Sauna
Experimental: Group 2 - Cohort 2d
Adults of both sexes 18-50 years of age meeting criteria for an episode of major depression or generalized anxiety disorder on the MINI
Other: Whole-Body Hyperthermia
The Clearlight dome sauna is portable infrared sauna consisting of two lightweight domes and an infrared heating pad. The sauna will be used to deliver the intervention to the participant and the sauna session will end as soon as (1) an internal body temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F) is reached for two consecutive minutes or, (2) 140 minutes have passed.
Other Names:
  • Clearlight Portable Dome Sauna
Experimental: Group 3 - Cohort 2a
Healthy women or transgender men 18-50 years of age, <6 months postpartum
Other: Whole-Body Hyperthermia
The Clearlight dome sauna is portable infrared sauna consisting of two lightweight domes and an infrared heating pad. The sauna will be used to deliver the intervention to the participant and the sauna session will end as soon as (1) an internal body temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F) is reached for two consecutive minutes or, (2) 140 minutes have passed.
Other Names:
  • Clearlight Portable Dome Sauna
Diagnostic test: fMRI
A standard magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine will be used to take images of the brain.
Experimental: Group 3 - Cohort 2b
Women and transgender men 18-50 years of age, <6 months postpartum, meeting criteria for a major depressive episode in the postpartum period on the MINI
Other: Whole-Body Hyperthermia
The Clearlight dome sauna is portable infrared sauna consisting of two lightweight domes and an infrared heating pad. The sauna will be used to deliver the intervention to the participant and the sauna session will end as soon as (1) an internal body temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F) is reached for two consecutive minutes or, (2) 140 minutes have passed.
Other Names:
  • Clearlight Portable Dome Sauna
Diagnostic test: fMRI
A standard magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine will be used to take images of the brain.
Experimental: Group 3 - Cohort 2c
Healthy adults of both sexes 18-50 years of age
Other: Whole-Body Hyperthermia
The Clearlight dome sauna is portable infrared sauna consisting of two lightweight domes and an infrared heating pad. The sauna will be used to deliver the intervention to the participant and the sauna session will end as soon as (1) an internal body temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F) is reached for two consecutive minutes or, (2) 140 minutes have passed.
Other Names:
  • Clearlight Portable Dome Sauna
Diagnostic test: fMRI
A standard magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine will be used to take images of the brain.
Experimental: Group 3 - Cohort 2d
Adults of both sexes 18-50 years of age meeting criteria for an episode of major depression or generalized anxiety disorder on the MINI
Other: Whole-Body Hyperthermia
The Clearlight dome sauna is portable infrared sauna consisting of two lightweight domes and an infrared heating pad. The sauna will be used to deliver the intervention to the participant and the sauna session will end as soon as (1) an internal body temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F) is reached for two consecutive minutes or, (2) 140 minutes have passed.
Other Names:
  • Clearlight Portable Dome Sauna
Diagnostic test: fMRI
A standard magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine will be used to take images of the brain.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percent change in EEG amplitude.
Time Frame: During the course of the intervention: when participant core temperature reaches 38.5 C for two consecutive minutes OR after 140 minutes have passed.
Measure the extent of broad-band neural suppression in WBH.
During the course of the intervention: when participant core temperature reaches 38.5 C for two consecutive minutes OR after 140 minutes have passed.
Percent change in EEG frequency.
Time Frame: During the course of the intervention: when participant core temperature reaches 38.5 C for two consecutive minutes OR after 140 minutes have passed.
Measure the extent of broad-band neural suppression in WBH,
During the course of the intervention: when participant core temperature reaches 38.5 C for two consecutive minutes OR after 140 minutes have passed.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean change from baseline in inflammatory activity as measured by pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Time Frame: Two days prior to the intervention; immediately prior to intervention; immediately post-intervention; and at five days post-intervention.
Determine whether peripheral immune activation predicts the effect of WBH on PPD or depressive and anxiety symptoms in non-postpartum adults.
Two days prior to the intervention; immediately prior to intervention; immediately post-intervention; and at five days post-intervention.
Mean change in average 24-hour core temperature.
Time Frame: Two days prior to the intervention and five days post-intervention.
Determine the average change in core temperature across the whole-body hyperthermia intervention.
Two days prior to the intervention and five days post-intervention.
Individualized precision functional brain maps.
Time Frame: Up to 3 fMRI scans in the 10 days before the intervention and up to 7 fMRI scans in the 6 weeks post-intervention.
Determine longitudinal changes in neural circuit activity produced by whole-body hyperthermia.
Up to 3 fMRI scans in the 10 days before the intervention and up to 7 fMRI scans in the 6 weeks post-intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lauren M Osborne, PhD, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
  • Principal Investigator: Jonathan Power, MD, PhD, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 16, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 16, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

November 22, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 3, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 30, 2025

Last Verified

July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 23-01025619

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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