Altered Experienced Thermoregulation in Depression—No Evidence for an Effect of Early Life Stress
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15519858 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sarina von Salis (University of Zurich), Ulrike Ehlert (0000-0002-1982-8321, University of Zurich), Susanne Fischer (0000-0002-9111-9933, University of Zurich, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Pages | 620656-620656 |
| Publication date | 2021-07-21 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.620656 |
| PMID | 34366905 |
| OpenAlex | W3186148917 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 23 |
Objectives: Accumulating evidence suggests that individuals with depression are characterised by difficulties in thermoregulatory cooling. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time, whether depressed individuals are aware of these alterations, what their physical consequences are and whether they may be rooted in early life stress. Methods: A total of N = 672 medically healthy individuals from the general population were recruited to participate in an online survey. Participants were divided into depressed vs. non-depressed using the Patient Health Questionnaire. Experienced autonomic and behavioural thermoregulation as well as vigilance problems in response to temperature increases were assessed by the Experienced Temperature Sensitivity and Regulation Survey. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was administered to assess early life stress. Results: Controlling for age, sex, body mass index, and physical activity, depressed vs. non-depressed individuals did not differ in their experienced autonomic and behavioural responses to temperature increases. However, the depressed individuals reported comparably greater difficulties in concentrating and drowsiness/fatigue in warm environments ( p = 0.029), during physical exertion ( p = 0.029), and during stress ( p Conclusions: Depressed individuals experienced more severe physical impairments (i.e., greater vigilance problems) in response to intense warmth when compared to non-depressed individuals. These differences were not attributable to comorbid illnesses, the intake of medication, or physical deconditioning. Further enquiries in clinical populations are warranted to investigate to what extent the observed alterations map onto specific symptoms of depression (e.g., sleep disturbances)
Deconditioning · Depression (economics · Physical therapy · Population · Thermoregulation · Vigilance (psychology · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Clinical Psychology · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Psychology · Stress Responses and Cortisol · Internal Medicine
| Highly cited | No |
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