In recent years, there have been some studies that have shown that a relationship between comorbid depression and body temperature can be detected, but these results have not been solid, mainly because they were based on small samples. The UCSF team decided to get to the heart of the question, and organized a much broader data set, involving 20,880 volunteers over the course of seven months.
Although it is not yet known what is the cause of the phenomenon, and the new research in itself is not conclusive, it is certain that even in the study conducted on a large sample, it was found that bouts of depression are associated with a higher body temperature. Although the data was provided by volunteers who made the measurements themselves, the data came from 106 different countries, meaning the phenomenon was detectable regardless of geographic location.
According to researchers, there may be several explanations for the rise in temperature. It may be caused by metabolic processes that react to failure of biological functions, or something that prevents the release of body heat. It is also possible that there is a common cause, either inflammation or stress At the same time Deterioration of mood and high temperature.
The research showed not only that body temperature increased, but also that the higher the body temperature, the more severe the symptoms of depression. It was not statistically significant, but it appeared that more severe depression symptoms were also associated with lower daily variation in body temperature.
Another small group study found that hot baths and saunas reduce symptoms of depression. These effects can improve mood by stimulating the body's thermoregulation through sweating.
Ironically, heating people lowers their body temperature and the effect lasts longer than, say, cooling them directly with an ice bath. What if we tracked body temperature and thus timed treatment to rewarm depressed people?
asked UCSF psychiatrist Ashley Mason.
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