Low Intensity 'Blue Light' Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder

NCT01149135 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: METc 2008.184
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

One of the most frequently investigated hypothesis of the pathophysiology underlying Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD) or so called winter depression is a disturbance of circadian rhythms. Since the circadian system is especially sensitive for the blue portion of the light spectrum, a new light therapy device with more blue light (blue enriched polychromatic light) was tested for its efficacy to treat SAD. In chronobiological terms this light is hypothesized to be more potent in inducing non-visual effects. In the present study fluorescent tubes that emit a high portion of short wavelength light on top of the normal wavelengths are tested for its superiority in treating SAD. This blue-enriched light (colour temperature 17000 ºK) is compared to standard light treatment (5000 º K) in SAD patients.,In a earlier study it was shown that the therapeutic effect of blue enriched light were equal to standard light treatment using light in both conditions with an intensity of 10 000 lux. In the present study, blue enriched light with an intensity of 750 lux was used, because of the possible saturation effect in the former study. The investigators hypothesise that blue- enriched light with a low intensity improve the therapeutic effects of light treatment leading to a higher response or the same response in a shorter time schedule compared to standard light treatment.

Conditions

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Keywords

Seasonal Affective Disorder; phototherapy; circadian rhythms; blue enriched light; melanopsin; low intensity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• SIGH-SAD

  Structured Interview Guide of the Hamilton Depression Scale, seasonal affective disorder version

  weekly

Study Arms (2)

Standard light treatment

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

standard light treatment 5000K; 10 000 lux

Device: standard light treatment

blue enriched light

EXPERIMENTAL

Blue enriched light with a low intensity (750 lux)

Device: Blue enriched light with a low intensity

Interventions

Blue enriched light with a low intensity DEVICE

30 minutes in the morning, 750 lux

Also known as: Blue enriched light treatment, Philips energy light HF 3309, 2 lamps PLL36 W 17000 K

blue enriched light

standard light treatment DEVICE

standard light treatment, 30 minutes, 10 000 lux

Also known as: Philips Energylight HF 3309, 2 lamps PLL36 W, color 5000K, 10 000 lux

Standard light treatment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-65
• Diagnose of Seasonal Affective Disorder, winter type according to DSM-IV SIGH SAD rating Higher then or equal to 18 on day 1
• No other treatments for mood disorder during the study
• Stay in the Netherlands during the study

You may not qualify if:

• Other axis-I disorders according to the DSM-IV
• Acute suicide risk
• Use of psychotropic drugs or photosensitizing drugs
• No other treatments for mood disorder during the study
• Diabetes or epilepsy
• Regular shift work

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Medical Center Groningen: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 22, 2010
• First Posted: June 23, 2010
• Study Start: October 1, 2008
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2009
• Study Completion: March 1, 2009
• Last Updated: August 10, 2011

Record last verified: 2008-10