Sea Swimming for Treatment of Depression and Anxiety

NCT04528485 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: DPT0468 Sea Swimming
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 61
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

There is a developing evidence to suggest that open cold water swimming could have an impact on depression and anxiety:

• anecdotal reports of benefits to mental wellbeing as a result of regular open water bathing
• research suggesting exercise is as effective as medication and talking therapies in the treatment of depression
• ecotherapy (offering therapeutic intervention in nature) has a developing evidence base
• cold water may have an impact on the inflammatory system which has been linked to depression The aim of this study is to recruit 10 people with mild to moderately severe depression to a sea swimming course, alongside their standard care. The course would involve two groups of 5, participating in eight sea sessions under the guidance and supervision of swim instructors and lifeguards. The primary aim of the course is to determine the recruitment rate and compliance with the course. The secondary aims of the course are to determine the impact on mental health through questionnaires for depression (PHQ9), anxiety (GAD7), functioning in daily life (WSAS). The inflammatory marker - C- reactive protein (CRP), will also be measured to monitor the inflammatory process in relation to psychological outcomes and the timeline of the course. Participants will need to commit to two sessions a week. It is anticipated that participants will need to commit around 2 hours of their time to the study each week. It would take around ten months from recruitment to follow-up. Participants would be able to leave the study at any time. Participants would engage in routine care alongside the course. Sea swimming can be a dangerous activity but participants would be well supported, in small groups and would only sea swim in safe conditions. Participants will be asked to report any medical conditions to ensure they could not be adversely effected.

Conditions

Depression, Anxiety

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Recruitment and retention of participants

  The number of participants recruited and how many of them complete the course

  5 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Effect of course on measures of anxiety

  5 weeks

• Effect of course on measures of depression

  5 weeks

• Effect of course on measures of functioning

  5 weeks

• Effect of course on inflammation

  5 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Sea swimming

EXPERIMENTAL

8 sessions over 4 weeks of swimming-based activities in the sea

Other: Sea swimming

Interventions

Sea swimming OTHER

8 sessions of swimming activities in the sea

Sea swimming

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults living in North Devon and able to attend the course.
• PHQ-9 score 5-19
• Able to swim two lengths of a 25m pool

You may not qualify if:

• Physical health problems that would make cold water immersion a risk including significant heart problems, inadequately treated high blood pressure e.g. new diagnosis not on stable medication, significantly reduced mobility.
• Experience of other mental health problems at a significant level
• Not able to swim or very anxious about getting into water
• Suicide risk
• Unable to speak English (as the sea swimming course will be conducted in English)
• Unable to consent due to lack of capacity

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Devon Partnership NHS Trust: lead

Study Sites (1)

Croyde Beach

Croyde, Devon, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (22)

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Related Links

• The Mental Health Taskforce (2016) The Five Year Forward View For Mental Health.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence \[NICE\] (2018) 'Depression in adults: recognition and management \[CG90\]'.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• C Mark Harper, MBBS

  Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2020
• First Posted: August 27, 2020
• Study Start: July 1, 2020
• Primary Completion: March 16, 2021
• Study Completion: March 16, 2021
• Last Updated: August 18, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)