1. Regular sauna sessions may benefit individuals with depression, according to a study by Ashley Mason.
2. The study showed that a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and sauna sessions helped improve depression symptoms in participants, with 11 out of 12 no longer meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder.
3. While more research is needed, some therapists are already recommending sauna therapy to their clients for mood-enhancing benefits, and the potential for saunas to be covered by insurance in the future is being explored.
A study conducted by Ashley Mason, a clinical psychologist at the UC San Francisco Osher Center for Integrative Health, suggests that regular sauna sessions may benefit individuals with depression. The study involved treating 12 adults with major depressive disorder with a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and sauna sessions heated to around 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 140 minutes. By the end of the trial, 11 out of the 12 participants no longer met the criteria for major depressive disorder.
The study focused on the idea that individuals with depression often have higher body temperatures than average. Research suggests that when depression symptoms improve, body temperature tends to normalize as well. By raising body temperatures, researchers believe that the body’s cooling systems might work faster and help mitigate depression symptoms. Previous studies have found that increasing body temperatures through methods like infrared hyperthermia can lead to improvements in depression symptoms.
While more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of sauna therapy in combating depression, therapists like licensed psychotherapist Annie Wright are already recommending it to their clients. Some clients have reported positive mood-enhancing benefits and alleviation of depression symptoms during and after sauna sessions. Wright also recommends combining sauna therapy with cold plunges, which can increase the production of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters. The ultimate goal is to gather enough clinical evidence for insurance companies to cover saunas as a viable treatment option for depression.