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Outdoor swimming as a nature-based intervention for depressio

Not Applicable
Conditions
Depression
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Registration Number
ISRCTN24759023
Lead Sponsor
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Ongoing
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
480
Inclusion Criteria

1. Participants give fully informed consent to participate
2. Symptoms of depression, as determined by the PHQ-9 (scores 5 and above) and meeting DSM 5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (this will also be assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview [MINI])
3. Self-reported ability to swim a minimum distance in a heated pool for sea (50 m, 2 lengths of a normal swimming pool) and lake (25 m, 1 length of a normal swimming pool) locations, no swimming experience is required for outdoor unheated swimming pools (lidos)
4. Adult aged 18 years or older
5. Able to understand spoken instructions in English or in a language spoken by the swim coaches that are recruited

Exclusion Criteria

1. Risk of suicide (participants deemed a high risk of suicide based on a score of 17 and over from the MINI suicidality module)
2. Evidence of a current psychotic disorder (ascertained from the MINI psychotic disorders module conducted during a phone call with RA and further assessed by the medical team)
3. History of serious cardiac abnormalities determined after medical review and assessment
4. Respiratory conditions triggered by cold such as poorly controlled exercise-induced asthma
5. Cold-water urticaria
6. Participants with a BMI of 17 or under
7. Moderate to severe learning disability
8. History of non-freezing cold injuries, if not mitigated (wearing boots/gloves)

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Depression severity is measured using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at baseline, at 12 and 38 weeks post-randomisation
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
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