In a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research highlights the mental health benefits of frequent sauna bathing combined with high cardiorespiratory fitness. The research indicates that regular sauna sessions, particularly when coupled with good fitness levels, can significantly reduce the risk of developing psychosis.
Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, are severe mental health conditions that disrupt thinking, perception, and behavior, often leading to hallucinations and delusions. These symptoms cause considerable distress and impair daily functioning, affecting relationships and the ability to work.
Previous research has shown that both frequent sauna bathing and high cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels reduce the risk of psychosis. The current study aimed to investigate whether their combination offers stronger protection.
Researchers, lead by Setor Kunutsor, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Leicester, analyzed data from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease (KIHD) cohort, which included 2,682 middle-aged and older men in Finland. Participants’ sauna use and fitness levels were assessed, and their mental health was tracked over a median of 25 years. Sauna frequency was categorized into low (two or fewer times per week) and high (three to seven times per week) groups, while CRF was measured through peak oxygen uptake during exercise tests.
The findings revealed that high-frequency sauna users had a 51% lower risk of developing psychosis compared to low-frequency users. Moreover, men with both high-frequency sauna use and medium-to-high fitness levels had the lowest risk of psychosis, with those having high sauna use and low fitness levels still showing a 74% lower risk.
Kunutsor noted the surprising effectiveness of frequent sauna bathing on mental health, suggesting it might have a more substantial impact than high fitness levels alone. However, the study’s observational nature limits the ability to establish causation, and its focus on middle-aged and older men restricts generalizability to other groups.
SK Kunutsor et al. Frequent sauna bathing and psychosis: Interrelationship with cardiorespiratory fitness. Journal of Psychiatric Research (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.044
