Impact of Depression on Thermoregulation

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.

Inclusion criteria

• Non-depressed adults aged 18-40 years;
• OR adults aged 18-40 years with clinically diagnosed major depressive disorder according to DSM-V criteria not currently receiving antidepressant treatment;
• OR adults aged 18-40 years with clinically diagnosed major depressive disorder with at least 2 weeks of treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor;
• OR aged 18-40 years adults with clinically diagnosed major depressive disorder with at least 2 weeks of treatment with a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor;
• All participants will be asymptomatic and no signs/symptoms of disease according to the American College of Sports Medicine 10th edition Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (chest pain or pressure, dizziness, joint pain, and signs of cardiovascular disease);
• Systolic blood pressure 140 mmHg and diastolic pressure 90 mmHg at screening;
• Non-diabetic
• Not taking any other medications that might affect the physiological variables of interest (beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, antipyretics, diuretics, etc.);;
• Between the 20th and 80th percentiles for sex- and age-appropriate VO2max according to the American College of Sports Medicine 10th edition Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription;
• English proficiency;
• Capable of providing informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• BMI > 35
• Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next 12 months;
• Concurrently participate in another study involving physical activity or weight loss;
• Plan to have surgery or relocate outside the area within the next year;
• Medications that could alter cardiovascular or thermoregulatory responses to exercise (beta blockers, antipyretics, tricyclic antidepressants, diuretics, etc.);
• Allergy to latex or adhesive;
• Tobacco use;
• Illegal/recreational drug use;
• Exertional chest pain or musculoskeletal pain;
• Contraindications to a maximal exercise test or an indication for early termination of the exercise test according to the American College of Sports Medicine 10th edition Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription;
• Abnormal resting or exercise electrocardiogram (ECG);
• Any bleeding disorders, gastric ulcers, allergies to NSAIDS, asthma, kidney/liver disorders, and taking any other anticoagulants;
• History of Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, or similar gastrointestinal disease;
• Co-morbid psychiatric disorders (psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc.);
• Active suicidal ideation (moderate or high suicidality);
• Use of psychoactive or psychopharmacological drugs other than SSRI and SNRIs within one year of participating.