What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed and combined results from 17 studies to see how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) affects adults with psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
What They Found
The review found that HBOT significantly reduced depressive symptoms, showing a large effect (Cohen's d = -0.82), with strong benefits observed at 2.0 ATA but none at 1.2 ATA. It also showed moderate reductions in anxiety (d = -0.59) and a large effect in post-traumatic stress disorder (d = -1.96) in sham-controlled trials. Mild side effects like ear discomfort were reported.
Canadian Relevance
This study has Canadian authors. While it explores conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, these are not currently Health Canada-recognized indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are preliminary due to variable effects, inconsistent estimates, and the small size of most studies included in the analysis.