It is still sometimes difficult to discuss mental health and especially something as stigmatized as psychosis. While this illness does not affect many, it is a high risk ailment and can, at times, be lethal. So, despite the complexities and fear that may surround psychosis, there is promising new research to support this multifactorial disease with a more well rounded treatment plan that could include sauna therapy.
While a mere 3 % of the overall population will experience psychotic episodes at some point in their lifetime, this small number of individuals and their families are likely to suffer deeply. (1) Psychosis can become severely dangerous both for the individual having the experience as well as for those they may come into contact with. In short, though there may be a small portion of the population who is suffering from psychosis, this population is a high risk group.
New evidence reveals that sauna bathing at least 4-7 times per week can decrease the risk of developing psychosis. Those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are at a high risk for experiencing psychosis, and those that sauna throughout their lifetime are likely limiting the risk of developing Alzeimer’s disease as well.
Whether it is because saunas can help balance the autonomic nervous system, or increase neurological health, the exact reason why regular use of saunas may decrease the risk of psychosis expression is still unknown.
This robust study ‘Sauna Bathing and Risk of Psychotic Disorders: A Prospective Cohort Study’ dives deeply into the long term benefits of sauna bathing (with a focus on psychotic disorder) over the course of nearly 25 years with many participants. This makes it among the most reliable types of academic research.
Find out the details of this study, and how you can sauna to effectively care for your mental health.
Psychosis is not a matter to be taken lightly. If you or someone you know is currently experiencing a psychotic episode, please stop reading and go to the emergency room immediately.
For everyone else, welcome to the deep dive on how saunas may positively reduce the risk of developing psychosis in the future.
Defining Psychosis: A Cohort Study Reveals a Multifactorial Culmination of Biology, Life Events, and Genetic Predisposition
Psychosis is largely symptomatic of other psychiatric disorders, and is a disabling sickness. This condition is considered to be multifactorial by nature. This means that a combination of genetic makeup, biology, and environment can culminate in its expression. (2)
Life factors such as sudden loss of a loved one, financial crisis, or ongoing stress can factor into the expression of a psychotic episode.(3) Psychosis is well described in the 2018 article published in the National Library of Medicine peer reviewed journal entitled: ‘Sauna Bathing and Risk of Psychotic Disorders: A Prospective Cohort Study’:
“Psychosis is triggered by other conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, delusional disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and major depressive disorders. Psychotic disorders are serious mental disorders, with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 3% in the general population” (3)
This same study goes on to state that Alzheimer’s Disease is also a leading cause of psychosis. (4) Though the reasons and causes for the expression of psychosis are numerous, so too are potential treatment measures. In illnesses that are multifactorial in nature very often their treatments must also be multifactorial in nature.
Among many strategies and combinations of treatments for those suffering from psychosis is the potential of sauna bathing to seriously aid in its treatment. Sauna bathing is not the only treatment that should be used when dealing with cases of psychosis, however it may be considered as one tool out of many that are available.
The cohort study entitled: ‘Sauna Bathing and Risk of Psychotic Disorders: A Prospective Cohort Study’ reveals a strong correlation between the use of saunas with high frequency and the diminishment of the expression of psychosis.
Why Are Cohort Studies Important?
Not all scientific studies are created equal, and there are some that bear greater weight in validity. A cohort study is among the most compelling that exists in the realm of academic science. This is because a cohort study means that it studies a large group of individuals with similar characteristics over a long stretch of time. (5)
This means that as we move forward in the examination of how sauna bathing may affect those struggling with psychosis it should be considered that the results stem from the most reliable type of data collection known today.
A cohort study uses a large body of participants and is able to observe these individuals over a long period of time. This allows for researchers to analyze the real life effects of specific medications, activities, or other treatment methods. (5)
How Can Sauna Bathing Positively Affect Individuals Who Have Experienced Instances of Psychosis?
The regular use of sauna bathing is associated with the amelioration of many physical ailments, mood disorders, immunity, neurotropic factors, but can using a sauna really help with severe mental disorders such as psychosis? The research suggests that yes, in fact it can.
The article ‘Sauna Bathing and Risk of Psychotic Disorders: A Prospective Cohort Study’ writes.
“Sauna bathing, an activity linked to relaxation and well-being, which is commonly used and readily available in Nordic countries especially, has been linked with numerous health benefits which include improvement in the pain and symptoms associated with musculoskeletal diseases, treatment of chronic headache and reduced risk of respiratory diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mortality.” (3)
How is it possible that sauna bathing can have so many positive effects on the human organism? In reality, despite how it sometimes feels, the body operates in unison with itself, and so it is unlikely that an activity that is positive for one portion of the body will negatively affect another. The human body is an organism that is ever seeking states of harmony within itself. So, if an activity positively affects nearly all aspects of human physiology perhaps too it may always positively affect the brain.
This revelatory study goes on to write their hypothesis here:
“Given the strong relationship between psychotic disorders and factors such as stress, depression, anxiety, and dementia, as well as emerging evidence on the beneficial effects of sauna bathing or thermal therapy on these factors or outcomes, we hypothesized that sauna bathing may be linked to improved mental health.” (3)
The results of this study are resounding. The participants were placed into three separate groups. Those who used a sauna once a week, those who used a sauna 2-3 times a week, and those who used a sauna 4-7 times a week. (3)
The most remarkable aspect of the study was that after 24.9 years the individuals who used a sauna 4-7 times per week experienced dramatically less instances of psychosis than those who used a sauna 2-3 times a week. (3) Just as with physical symptoms, it appears that if you can sauna most days of the week you are much less likely to suffer from psychosis.
Take a look at the graph for a visual expression.
(3)
It is still unknown exactly why saunas help as a protective measure against psychosis; however, the researchers stated that perhaps it is for these reasons.
“Although the protective role of sauna bathing in the development of psychosis is not known, we propose several plausible mechanistic pathways. Frequent sauna baths enhance relaxation, pleasure and well-being, thereby reducing negative feelings and the anxieties and stresses of everyday life, which are also triggers for psychotic symptoms” (3)
This same study describes the very strong factor of the hormone cortisol in the expression of psychosis. It appears that there is a strong association between high levels of cortisol excreted via the adrenal glands and the expression of psychosis.
“There is evidence suggesting a strong link between elevated hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal activity and psychosis. Patients with psychotic disorders manifest increased hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal activity, which is characterized by increased levels of circulating hormones such as cortisol (main stress hormone) and adrenocorticotropin” (3)
It is believed that by reducing cortisol levels and working with the central nervous system on a nearly everyday basis may dramatically decrease the risks of psychosis.
It also appears that by reducing oxidative stress via passive heat therapy individuals are less likely to develop psychosis.
“Repeated sauna or passive heat therapy reduces levels of markers of oxidative stress and may protect against psychosis via reduction in oxidative stress.” (3)
There is another factor yet to be discussed, which is the effect that saunas have on cases of dementia, and very specifically Alzheimer’s Diseases. By reducing cases of Alzheimer’s disease it is also possible to reduce the risk of psychosis expression. According to this peer reviewed study from the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Sauna bathing is inversely associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in middle-aged Finnish men’ (4) sauna bathing may reduce the incidence of dementia in frequent sauna bathers.
“Frequent sauna bathing has also been shown to be associated with a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease” (4)
Whether high frequency use of saunas decrease the risk of psychosis due to reduced cortisol and overall stress hormone levels, or because of enhanced antioxidants in the body is unknown. Or perhaps simply by reducing the development of dementia the risk of psychosis is diminished. All of the specific reasons are unknown at the moment as to why frequent use of saunas may be able to help treat cases of psychosis. It could just simply be that as the overall health of an individual improves, the risk of developing psychosis diminishes.
In concluding remarks the authors of ‘Sauna Bathing and Risk of Psychotic Disorders: A Prospective Cohort Study’ write.
“In this new study, frequent sauna bathing was strongly associated with a reduced risk of psychotic disorders.” (3)
Saunas are not an emergency response to a psychotic episode, nor are they a replacement for high quality psychiatric attention. In multifactorial diseases it is important that the treatment likewise be multifactorial. So if you feel that you would like to incorporate sauna bathing as a portion of your treatment please consult with your psychiatrist before doing so.
Contraindications: Schizophrenics May Be Heat Sensitive
While it is important for all psychiatric patients to work with a professional before beginning any treatment protocol, it is very important to note that schizophrenia is a disease that may cause patients to be highly sensitive to temperature changes, and especially the heat.
The authors of ‘Sauna Bathing and Risk of Psychotic Disorders: A Prospective Cohort Study’ warn against the use of saunas for schizophrenic patients when they write.
“In addition, people with schizophrenia may need to be cautious when taking sauna baths, as evidence suggests that such populations may exhibit dysregulation of body temperature.” (3)
This sentiment is further supported by the article published in the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Layer upon layer: thermoregulation in schizophrenia’, (6) and the authors warn of temperature regulatory issues.
“It has generally been shown that, when compared with controls, people with schizophrenia exhibit dysregulation of body temperature including different baseline temperatures; abnormal daily range of temperatures and diurnal variation showing an earlier peak; an impaired ability to compensate to heat stress; and compensating more effectively to cold stress. This may be intrinsic to the syndrome of schizophrenia but is potentially confounded by the administration of neuroleptic medication.” (6)
If you or someone close to you is living with schizophrenia it is strongly advised to abstain from sauna use or cold therapies at this time until further research is done on the subject.
Sauna Bathing May Reduce The Risk of Psychosis Through Overall Enhancement of Physical Health
Sauna bathing is an ancient practice that humans have turned to since before recorded history. Perhaps this practice was used in the treatment of psychosis, like so many other illnesses. Reliable studies demonstrate a direct correlation between daily use of saunas and reduced risk of psychosis. The exact reasons are still unknown, but it may simply be that by enhancing the health of the body that the health of the mind is also dramatically improved. More research will reveal the exact relationship between sauna use and psychosis.
Psychiatric diseases can put individuals into high risk situations, and should never be taken lightly. If you are living with any condition that may lead to psychosis, please work closely with a mental health professional before beginning your sauna protocol.
If you plan to sauna 4-7 times per week then staying very well hydrated is crucial. This means taking fluids high in essential minerals and electrolytes.
If you or someone close to you is currently experiencing psychosis please go to the nearest emergency room.
Sources Cited:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17199051/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2847859/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6422146/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27932366/
- https://sph.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2015/07/nciph_ERIC6.pdf
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15469188/