Whole Body Hyperthermia Registry Study

The WBH procedure proposed in this protocol has been rigorously researched in subjects with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and there are little to no preliminary data pertaining to WBH use in populations outside of depression studies. In preliminary studies in Europe and a rigorously tested clinical trial being conducted at the University of Arizona (NCT01625546), a single exposure to WBH resulted in a decrease in depressive symptoms as measured using the German version of the CES-D depression scale 5 days later (in the study in Switzerland) and using the HamD rating scale 7 days later in the UA study. All research applications thus far have resulted in minimal adverse effects to study subjects.

During the conduct of research protocol 12-0147-04/NCT01625546 (WBH in subjects with Major Depression) our research site has been contacted by numerous individuals across the country asking if they can participate in our clinical trial. However due to the rigorous inclusion/exclusion criteria necessary for data collection, these individuals cannot be offered the research treatment. This protocol is intended to become a secondary resort for these individual's interested in receiving a Hyperthermia treatment for potential beneficial gain related to symptoms stemming from other comorbidities (i.e. Fibromyalgia, Perimenopausal symptoms, arthritis, etc). In fact, over the course of this study, several individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and other similar afflictions have, in discussions with study staff at screening, indicated that they have previously researched infrared heating and whole body hyperthermia and found that it was helpful to many people with these afflictions. As such, they are interested in being a part of the study in order to receive treatment that might help ease their pain from these afflictions in addition to the depression symptoms they are experiencing, given that depression is often a co-morbidity of these illnesses. Due to the fact that no external research funding has been acquired for this broad application, this protocol intended to charge a fee for cost covering purposes only.

The registry trial will not be limited to only include individuals with MDD, however this protocol will allow for an expanded use in all populations (while still excluding subjects based on safety parameters). We will monitor subject's physiological and clinical outcomes (if applicable) from a single Whole Body Hyperthermia treatment in an open fashion (no placebo/control condition). This registry study will include safety assessments 5 days prior to WBH, the day of WBH and 1 week following WBH.

Costs for Participating in the Study:

The WBH session is an investigational procedure, one approved for limited testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but not in general use. In addition to your time, you will be charged a fee of $800 for cost covering purposes only. The cost for this open treatment hyperthermia session will cover departmental staff time, clinical space, research materials, and overhead fees. You may pay with cash, check, or credit card. If you wish to pay with a credit card, a 3% fee will be assessed to cover credit card processing fees. All payments will be made to the Department of Psychiatry and will be processed by our Departmental business office.