Mild-Intensity Whole Body Hyperthermia (WBH) for Major Depressive Disorder

Summary

Overall, the objective of this pilot study is to utilize the IL-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab to prospectively evaluate the role of IL-6 in the antidepressant and immunological effects of whole body hyperthermia (WBH). The study seeks to replicate findings thus far that WBH has an antidepressant effect by administering the intervention at a site not involved in studies to date. Moreover, the current proposal may help the investigators better understand the role of IL-6 in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression which might point to novel immune-based interventions for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Finally, the current proposal holds promise for better understanding of a novel treatment for MDD, which is among the leading causes of health-related disability in the world.

Timeline

Start

2026-12-01

Primary completion

2028-12-01

Completion

2029-03-01

Publications

• Background Janssen CW, Lowry CA, Mehl MR, Allen JJ, Kelly KL, Gartner DE, Medrano A, Begay TK, Rentscher K, White JJ, Fridman A, Roberts LJ, Robbins ML, Hanusch KU, Cole SP, Raison CL. Whole-Body Hyperthermia for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016 Aug 1;73(8):789-95. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.1031.
• Background Hanusch KU, Janssen CH, Billheimer D, Jenkins I, Spurgeon E, Lowry CA, Raison CL. Whole-body hyperthermia for the treatment of major depression: associations with thermoregulatory cooling. Am J Psychiatry. 2013 Jul;170(7):802-4. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12111395. No abstract available.
• Background Hale MW, Lukkes JL, Dady KF, Kelly KJ, Paul ED, Smith DG, Raison CL, Lowry CA. Whole-body hyperthermia and a subthreshold dose of citalopram act synergistically to induce antidepressant-like behavioral responses in adolescent rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2017 Oct 3;79(Pt B):162-168. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.06.006. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Drugs

Indications