None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aims to explore whether taking a short cold-water shower each day can improve mental wellbeing in adults who experience symptoms of anxiety or depression. Participants will be randomly allocated to either continue their usual shower routine or to finish their daily shower with 90 seconds of cold water for 30 consecutive days. The study will measure changes in mood, sleep, fatigue, and overall wellbeing using online questionnaires completed at the start, middle, and end of the study. The researchers hypothesise that daily cold-water showers will lead to small but meaningful improvements in symptoms of anxiety and depression compared with usual showers, and that the approach will be practical, safe, and acceptable for most people. Findings from this pilot study will help determine whether a larger clinical trial should be conducted in the future.
Interventions
Participants will undertake a 30-day cold-water showering protocol, in which they are instructed to conclude their usual daily shower with 90 seconds of cold water at the coldest available temperature (approximately 10–18 °C).
Adherence will be monitored using brief daily REDCap surveys, where participants will report whether they completed the cold-water exposure, the duration achieved (in seconds), and their perceived coldness of the water. Participants will receive automated daily email remi
Participants will undertake a 30-day cold-water showering protocol, in which they are instructed to conclude their usual daily shower with 90 seconds of cold water at the coldest available temperature (approximately 10–18 °C). Adherence will be monitored using brief daily REDCap surveys, where participants will report whether they completed the cold-water exposure, the duration achieved (in seconds), and their perceived coldness of the water. Participants will receive automated daily email reminders from REDCap to support adherence. At the end of the 30-day period, participants will complete a short REDCap adherence questionnaire to capture overall compliance, any barriers experienced, and deviations from the protocol.
Sponsors
University of South Australia
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Participants will need to meet the following inclusion criteria: - Adults aged 18-65 years - Have regular access to a shower at home and be able to complete the shower at a consistent time each day (morning or evening) for 30 consecutive days - Not currently engaging in routine cold showers or cold-water immersion i.e. more than once per week in the past month - Mild–moderate symptoms on at least 1 DASS-21 subscale at screening – Depression 10–20; Anxiety 8–14 - Psychotropic medications and psychotherapy, if any, stable for at least 12 weeks with no planned changes during the study.
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded from this study if they: - Have been diagnosed with and are managing a serious medical condition including, but not limited to, cardiac, pulmonary, Raynaud’s disease or mental health conditions. Participants will answer the question: “Do you have a medical condition?”, and will be screened carefully for any severe cardiac, pulmonary or other systemic comorbidity at the research team’s judgement. - Severe/extremely severe DASS-21 at screening (Depression >21; Anxiety >15) or any indication of acute risk (refer to care). - Have started a new medication for their depression and/or anxiety in the previous 3 months - Do not have access to a shower - Unable to understand the English language - Are currently pregnant
Outcome results
None listed