Actively Recruiting
Impact of Indoor Overheating on Physiological Strain in Individuals With Schizophrenia
Led by University of Ottawa · Updated on 2026-04-23
10
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
4 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects about 24 million people worldwide and is linked to a higher risk of death compared to the general population. Research shows that high temperatures can worsen mental health symptoms and increase heat-related health risks. For people with schizophrenia, heat can worsen symptoms, reduce judgment, and lower the ability to take protective actions like staying hydrated or seeking cooler places. This study aims to gather early data on how indoor overheating affects body temperature, heart function, thinking skills, and mood in adults with schizophrenia. Participants will be randomly assigned to spend 6 hours in one of two indoor environments: a room kept at 26°C and 45% humidity, which is the upper recommended temperature for older adults, or a hotter room at 36°C and 45% humidity, similar to non-air-conditioned homes during heat waves. During the day, participants will sit mostly at rest wearing light clothing but will perform 15 minutes of stepping exercise each hour (except lunchtime) to simulate typical daily activity. During the exposure, researchers will monitor core body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, mood, cognitive functions like attention and memory, balance, hydration, and physical activity levels. Various questionnaires and scales will be used at the start and end of the 6-hour period to assess mood, exertion, thermal comfort, thirst, and other symptoms. The study is designed to better understand how heat affects people with schizophrenia and to help develop ways to protect their health during extreme heat events.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Heat Stress in Individuals With Schizophrenia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- English or French speaking
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Individuals with and without schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
You will not qualify if you...
- Endurance exercise training (more than 3 sessions of vigorous exercise per week lasting 30 minutes or more)
- Restrictions to physical activity
- History of other psychiatric disorders that make participation inadvisable
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Two separate 6-hour sessions
Participants are exposed to daylong indoor temperatures of 26°C and 36°C in a randomized crossover design to assess physiological responses to heat.
2 visits (each 6 hours, in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
G
Glen P Kenny, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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