Chronic sleep disorders, stress-induced disorders, bronchial asthma
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: The atmosphere inside a therapeutic cave or natural cavern can promote psycho-vegetative calming. This phenomenon is likely due to the unique climatic conditions and the low-stimulus environm
fine-particle and NO2 concentrations are extremely low
temperature is below 12 °C, and humidity above 85%. The environment is extraordinarily quiet: the average noise level is typically well below the L_\text{night} threshold of 40 dB(A), which is conside
Sponsors
Deutscher Heilstollenverband
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: All nationalities Sleep disorders (PSQI: cut-off value > 5 points) Stress burden (PSS: cut-off value > 13 points) Asthma (requires medical diagnosis)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Common cold within the past 4 weeks • Former smokers who have quit less than 3 months ago • Pregnancy • Claustrophobia • Decompensated heart failure • Uncontrolled asthma (Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA] grade 3), frequent exacerbations (= 2 exacerbations requiring a change in medication) • Patients who have already participated in speleotherapy within the past 12 months • Severe substance abuse • Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) • Oral corticosteroid therapy • Cardiac arrhythmias • Insufficient or very short scalp hair
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Sleep Disorders Criterion 1: (Outcome: reduction of the subjective experience of a sleep disorder) Measurement instrument: Standardized questionnaire PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) — a self-report tool assessing sleep quality over a one-month period. Stress Burden Criterion 1: (Outcome: reduction of perceived stress burden) Measurement instrument: Standardized questionnaire PSS (Perceived Stress Scale) for perceived stress, including: Total score Subscore: perceived stress burden Subscore: perceived self-efficacy Asthma Criterion 1: (Outcome: increased cortisol excretion within one month) Measurement instrument: Total cortisol per cm of hair, measured with a hair length of 4 cm (representing a period of four months) Assessment Time Points T1: Before the intervention T2: After the intervention (4 weeks after T1) (not for cortisol measurement in hair) T3: 2.5 months after T2 T4: 2.5 months after T3 | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Sleep Disorders Criterion 2: (Outcome: balanced autonomic nervous system) Measurement instrument: HRV measurement (heart rate variability): Parameter HF (heart rate) Parameter SI (stress index): marker of sympathetic activity Parameter RMSSD (Root Mean Square of Successive Differences): marker of parasympathetic activity Parameter SDNN (Standard Deviation of Normal-to-Normal intervals): marker of overall variability Parameter Alpha 1 (= DFA1, Detrended Fluctuation Analysis) Stress Burden Measurement instrument: HRV measurement (heart rate variability); for details see “Sleep Disorders” Asthma Criterion 2: (Outcome: increase in morning cortisol secretion) Measurement instrument: Salivary cortisol daily profile | — |
Countries
Austria, Germany
Contacts
Public ContactJoachim Schwarz
Deutscher Heilstollenverband
Outcome results
None listed