The purpose of this study is to determine if, compared to non-depressed adults, differences exist in skin blood flow and sweating responses to passive heat stress in adults with clinically diagnosed depression, those with depression who are prescribed and taking SSRIs and those with depression who are prescribed and taking SNRIs.
Four groups will be recruited to examine the impact of major depressive disorder and pharmaceutical treatments on thermoregulatory heat loss mechanisms. Adults without MDD, adults with MDD, adults with MDD currently prescribed and taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as treatment, and adults with MDD currently prescribed and taking serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors as treatment will be recruited to completed a passive heat stress experiment. All subjects will sign an informed consent form and undergo a medical screening prior to participation. Each subject will complete 1 passive heat stress experiment in which body temperature will be using a water perfused suit. During passive heating, body temperature, skin blood flow, and local and whole-body sweat rates will be continuously measured and recorded to compare heat stress responses between groups.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
64
Noll Laboratory
University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
RECRUITINGSkin blood flow
Skin blood flow response to whole body heating is continuously monitored during the experimental trial, about 2 hours.
Time frame: Monitored continuously during the passive heating experimental trial, about 2 hours.
Local Sweat Rate
A small sweat capsule is placed on the forearm for the duration of the passive whole body heating experiment, about 2 hours.
Time frame: Monitored continuously during the passive heating experimental trial, about 2 hours.
Core Temperature
Changes in body temperature are measured through a telemetry pill swallowed before each experiment.
Time frame: Monitored continuously during the passive heating experimental trial, about 2 hours.
Body Mass
Body mass is measured on a scale before and after the passive heating experimental trail.
Time frame: Will be measured once immediately before and once immediately after the passive heating experimental trail.
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