A randomized controlled pilot trial of low and high arousal resilience interventions for depressive symptoms.

This article focuses on a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of high-arousal hormetic stress interventions—specifically the Wim Hof Method (WHM) involving fast-paced breathing and cold showers, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT)—with low-arousal interventions including mindfulness meditation (MIND) and a slow breathing active control (TOBS) on depressive symptoms and perceived stress in women reporting high stress. Over a three-week period, all four interventions similarly reduced depressive symptoms and perceived stress, with no significant differences immediately postintervention. However, an "as treated" analysis at three months showed that participants in the WHM group maintained greater reductions in depressive symptoms and experienced increased positive affect compared to the control and other intervention groups. Cortisol reactivity to acute stress did not differ across groups pre- and postintervention. The study highlights multiple accessible approaches to stress resilience but notes limitations including small sample size, baseline differences, and the need for replication in larger, more diverse populations.