There is a stark chasm between the advancement of treatments for physical ailments like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, compared to those for behavioral health conditions such as depression. Despite the fact that mental disorders contribute to approximately 14% of global deaths annually (a staggering 8 million lives lost), the disparity in treatment progression is a growing issue.
Vail Health\u2019s Behavioral Health Innovation Center (BHIC) aims to address the need for novel treatments in behavioral health. Led by Vail Health Behavioral Health\u2019s Executive Director Chris Lindley and Dr. Charles Raison, a distinguished psychiatrist, researcher and professor at the University of Wisconsin \u2013 Madison, the BHIC is poised to pioneer a paradigm shift in mental health treatment and is steadfast in its mission to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The BHIC will initially focus on the following three studies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICANTS!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n CHILL’D Study (\u201cCold and Heat Investigation to Lower Levels of Depression\u201d) <\/strong>will explore ways to optimize the proven benefits of hyperthermia for depression, including whether adding cold to heat will improve outcomes and whether hyperthermia can be effectively combined with standard antidepressants. Building upon existing evidence suggesting the antidepressant effects of heat therapy, this groundbreaking study will explore the synergistic potential of combining heat treatment with cold water plunge. Key objectives include assessing whether cold immersion augments the antidepressant properties of heat therapy and examining the impact of antidepressant medication on the efficacy of heat treatment. Additionally, in collaboration with the Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI), the BHIC will investigate the effects of heat and cold therapy on senescent cells\u2014chttps:\/\/www.vailhealthbh.org\/chilld<\/a>ells that have ceased dividing and that contribute to unhealthy aging. This exploration holds profound implications, as understanding the interplay between these treatments and senescent cells could offer insights into novel therapeutic avenues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n