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Beyond the cold baths: contemporary applications of cold-water immersion in the treatment of clinical depression and anxiety

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 November 2023

Carlos Carona Open the ORCID record for Carlos Carona [Opens in a new window]  and
Sandra Marques
Carlos Carona*
Affiliation:
An academic researcher in the Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention and an invited lecturer in the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal. He is also a clinical psychologist with an advanced specialty in psychotherapy and lectures in the areas of cognitive–behavioural interventions and scientific methodology. His main interests include cognitive–behavioural therapy, developmental psychopathology, philosophy of science and clinical communication.
Sandra Marques
Affiliation:
A clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric and mental health nursing in the Community Care Unit of Seia Health Center (Guarda District Health Local Unit), Seia, Portugal. Her main interests include chronic mental health conditions and cognitive–behavioural interventions.
*
Correspondence Dr Carlos Carona. Email: ccarona@fpce.uc.pt
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Summary

Cold-water immersion (e.g. adapted cold showers, partial or whole-body immersion, cold swimming) are nowadays increasingly being used as an adjunctive procedure to enhance the effects of primary treatment of various clinical conditions, including depressive and anxiety disorders. This brief article reviews the evidence regarding the beneficial effects of cold-water immersion on clinical depression and anxiety and outlines potential therapeutic mechanisms underlying the intervention. Promising avenues for future research and best practice recommendations are also discussed to improve the clinical effectiveness of cold-water immersion.

Keywords

Cold-water immersiondepressionanxietyfear-related disorderscognitive–behavioural therapy
Type
Refreshment
Information
BJPsych Advances , First View , pp. 1 - 3
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

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