Heat Stress in Individuals With Schizophrenia

Официальное название

Impact of Indoor Overheating on Physiological Strain in Individuals With Schizophrenia

Обзор

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness affecting approximately 24 million people worldwide and is associated with more than double the all cause mortality risk of the general population. Emerging evidence demonstrates that elevated temperatures acutely worsen mental health symptoms and significantly increase the risk of heat related morbidity and mortality. For people living with schizophrenia, prolonged exposure to heat can exacerbate psychiatric symptoms, impair judgment and decision making, and reduce the ability to engage in protective behaviors such as increasing hydration, reducing clothing, improving ventilation, or seeking cooler environments. As a result, individuals with schizophrenia may experience higher rates of heat related illness. To date our understanding of heat exposure effects in individuals with schizophrenia remains incomplete, hindering the development of evidence-based strategies to protect them. Thus, the primary objective of this exploratory study is to gather preliminary data on the effects of indoor overheating on physiological responses (core body temperature and cardiovascular function), cognitive performance (attention, working memory, and reaction time), and mood in adults with schizophrenia. Specifically, we will assess whether maintaining indoor conditions at the upper recommended temperature limit for older adults (26°C, 45% relative humidity \[RH\]; PMID: 38329752) is sufficient to mitigate physiological strain compared with exposure to a hot indoor environment (36°C, 45% RH) representative of non-air-conditioned homes during extreme heat events in individuals with schizophrenia. In both conditions, the individual will remain seated at rest while wearing light clothing (t shirt and shorts), with the exception of performing 15 minutes of stepping exercise (4-4.5 METS) each hour (excluding the lunch period) to reflect typical daily activities of daily living.

Вмешательства

• Другое Simulated exposure to indoor overheating
  Individuals with schizophrenia exposed to a 6-hour simulated heat exposure

Первичные конечные точки

• Core temperature (Peak) during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: End of 6 hour daylong exposure]

Вторичные конечные точки (12)

• Profiles of Mood States (POMS) during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At the start (hour 0) and end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ) during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At the start (hour 0) and end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Perceived exertion scale during daylong exposure to indoor temperature limit. [Срок оценки: At the start (hour 0) and end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Activity levels (total steps taken) during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: End of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Feel good scale during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At the start (hour 0) and end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Thirst sensation scale during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At the start (hour 0) and end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Thermal comfort scale during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At the start (hour 0) and end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Thermal sensation 2 scale during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At the start (hour 0) and end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Thermal sensation scale during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At the start (hour 0) and end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Fluid loss during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Fluid consumption during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At end of 6 hour daylong exposure]
• Hydration status during daylong exposure to indoor overheating [Срок оценки: At the start (hour 0) and end of 6 hour daylong exposure]

Критерии участия

Критерии включения

• English or French speaking.
• Ability to provide informed consent.
• Individuals with and without schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Критерии исключения

• Endurance exercise training (greater than 3 sessions of vigorous exercise training per week for 30 minutes or more)
• Restrictions to physical activity
• Any history of diagnoses for other psychiatric disorders deemed to make participation in the study inadvisable.

Критерии приведены из реестра в оригинале (на английском). Окончательную оценку соответствия проводит исследовательский центр.

Здоровые добровольцы: Нет

Дизайн исследования

Распределение

Рандомизированное

Модель

Перекрёстный дизайн

Маскирование

Простое слепое

Основная цель

Фундаментальное исследование

Центры проведения

Канада · 1 центр

• University of Ottawa — Ottawa

Идентификаторы

NCT: NCT07383324 · HEPRU-2026-01-A

Первоисточники (государственные реестры)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH, США)

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