Sweat lodge usage as treatment for depression or other psychological disorders
WorkSafeBC Evidence-Based Practice Group, Martin CW
Record ID 32018002740
English
Authors' objectives:
To determine whether there is any evidence to support the efficacy and/or effectiveness of the use of sweat lodges (a ceremonial practice of indigenous peoples), as treatment for depression or any other psychological disorder.
Authors' results and conclusions:
Forty-four published studies were identified from the medical literature database searches. Upon examination of the titles and abstracts of these 44 studies, six studies were thought to be relevant and were retrieved in full for further appraisal. With regards to the efficacy and/or effectiveness of the sweat lodge experience, either as a stand-alone or as a component of multi-disciplinary treatment regiments, at present, there is no published study reporting its efficacy and/or effectiveness as a treatment for depression. Although the use of sweat lodges has been incorporated into a larger set of cultural interventions, especially in the process of addiction treatment, at present, there is no study to support the efficacy and/or effectiveness of the use of sweat lodge as treatment for depression.
Authors' methods:
A comprehensive and systematic literature search was conducted on March 2, 2022. We began by searching the internet, employing the Bing? search engine (https://www.bing.com/), in order to establish a comprehensive definition of ?sweat lodge? and of the practice of its usage. We came across initial information as available on the Canadian Encyclopedia online website (https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sweat-lodge), and then used the information gathered from this first search to develop our subsequent literature searching criteria. A formal literature search was done on commercial medical literature databases using one key word combination (sweat lodge*). No limitations, such as on the language or date of publication, were implemented in any of these searches. A manual search was also conducted on the references of the articles that were retrieved in full.
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/research-services/evidence-based-medicine-and-systematic-reviews
Year Published:
2022
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Mini HTA
Country:
Canada
MeSH Terms
- Depression
- Depressive Disorder
- Health Services, Indigenous
- Medicine, Traditional
- Community Mental Health Services
- Indians, North American
- Steam Bath
- Mental Health
- Psychological Distress
Keywords
- sweat lodge
- depression
- psychological disorder
Contact
Organisation Name:
WorkSafeBC
Contact Address:
6591 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC, V7C 1C6 Canada. Tel: 604-231-8417; Fax: 604-279-7698
Contact Name:
ebpg@worksafebc.com
Contact Email:
ebpg@worksafebc.com
Copyright:
WorkSafe BC
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.