Influence of Light Exposure on Cerebral MAO-A in Seasonal Affective Disorder and Healthy Controls Measured by PET

NCT02582398 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 248/2011
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 99
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to assess differences in monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) distribution in the brain between seasonal affective disorder patients and healthy controls using positron emission tomography. In addition the investigators aim to demonstrate the impact of light therapy on MAO-A distribution In addition, a pilot study and a sub-study in healthy controls were performed

Conditions

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in MAO-A specific distribution volume (MAO-A DVs) assessed with PET

  PET2 (3 weeks after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline), PET3 (6 months after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline) and PET 2 (3 weeks after PET1)

Other Outcomes (5)

• Change in SAD symptoms assessed with Morningness-Eveningness-Questionnaire (MEQ)

  PET2 (3 weeks after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline), PET3 (6 months after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline) and PET 2 (3 weeks after PET1)

• Change in SAD symptoms assessed with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale with Atypical Depression Supplement (SIGH-ADS)

  PET2 (3 weeks after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline), PET3 (6 months after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline) and PET 2 (3 weeks after PET1)

• Change in SAD symptoms assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

  PET2 (3 weeks after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline), PET3 (6 months after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline) and PET 2 (3 weeks after PET1)

Study Arms (2)

Light Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

One subgroup of SAD patients and healthy controls respectively will receive bright light therapy using an artificial white light source (PhysioLight LD220 by DAVITA®, www.davita.de/shop/lichttherapiegeraete/lichtduschen-tageslicht/physiolight-ld-220.html) with full-spectrum 10.000lux light intensity. The treatment will be applied 30min per day at a distance of about of 50cm, preferably in the morning, during 3 weeks.

Other: Light Therapy

Placebo Light

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

The second subgroup of the SAD patients and healthy controls will receive a non-biologically active light source (\<400nm or \>500nm). Here, the lamp will have largely similar shape and size as compared to the therapeutic device, but the fluorescent tube with the high light intensity will be replaced by an ordinary bulb.

Other: Placebo Light

Interventions

Light Therapy OTHER

One subgroup of SAD patients and healthy controls respectively will receive bright light therapy using an artificial white light source (PhysioLight LD220 by DAVITA®, www.davita.de/shop/lichttherapiegeraete/lichtduschen-tageslicht/physiolight-ld-220.html) with full-spectrum 10.000lux light intensity. The treatment will be applied 30min per day at a distance of about of 50cm, preferably in the morning, during 3 weeks.

Light Therapy

Placebo Light OTHER

The second subgroup of the SAD patients and healthy controls will receive a non-biologically active light source (\<400nm or \>500nm). Here, the lamp will have largely similar shape and size as compared to the therapeutic device, but the fluorescent tube with the high light intensity will be replaced by an ordinary bulb.

Placebo Light

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• DSM-IV diagnosis of SAD established by diagnostic interview according to the SCID.
• Global Seasonality Score of 10 or higher on the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ)
• Somatic health based on history, physical examination, ECG, and laboratory screening
• Aged 18 to 55 years
• No therapeutic treatment of SAD in the last 6 months (drugs and light therapy)
• Willingness and competence to complete the informed consent process
• Aged 18 to 55 years
• Somatic and psychiatric health based on history, physical examination, ECG, laboratory screening, SCID
• Willingness and competence to complete the informed consent process

You may not qualify if:

• Concomitant major medical or neurological illness
• Concomitant psychiatric disorders
• Current smoking
• Ingestion of antidepressants or other psychotropic agents targeting the serotonergic system, within the last 6 months.
• Bright light therapy within the last 6 months.
• Current substance abuse including alcohol, drugs of abuse, or any medication in a manner which is indicative of substance-related disorders (e.g. substance dependency) according to the DSM-IV.
• Failure to comply with the study protocol or follow the instructions of the investigators.
• Positive urine pregnancy test.
• For participants who participated in an earlier neuroimaging study using ionizing radiation, the total radiation exposure dose of 20 mSv over the last 10 years must not be exceeded, as specified in the legislation on radiation protection (Allg. Strahlenschutzverordnung 2010; www.ris.bka.gv.at).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical University of Vienna: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Vienna, Austria

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Schlosser G, Murgas M, Godbersen GM, Reichel S, Silberbauer L, Nics L, Winkler D, Stimpfl T, Hacker M, Kasper S, Rujescu D, Lanzenberger R, Spies M. Human in vivo assessment of ketamine binding of the serotonin transporter-follow up at a higher dose. Front Neurosci. 2025 Oct 2;19:1651016. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1651016. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 41113438 DERIVED

• Handschuh PA, Murgas M, Winkler D, Winkler-Pjrek E, Hartmann AM, Domschke K, Baldinger-Melich P, Rujescu D, Lanzenberger R, Spies M. Summer and SERT: Effect of daily sunshine hours on SLC6A4 promoter methylation in seasonal affective disorder. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2025 Apr;26(4):159-169. doi: 10.1080/15622975.2025.2477463. Epub 2025 Mar 20.

  PMID: 40114401 DERIVED

• Spies M, Murgas M, Vraka C, Philippe C, Gryglewski G, Nics L, Balber T, Baldinger-Melich P, Hartmann AM, Rujescu D, Hacker M, Winkler-Pjrek E, Winkler D, Lanzenberger R. Impact of genetic variants within serotonin turnover enzymes on human cerebral monoamine oxidase A in vivo. Transl Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 15;13(1):208. doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02506-2.

  PMID: 37322010 DERIVED

• Handschuh PA, Murgas M, Vraka C, Nics L, Hartmann AM, Winkler-Pjrek E, Baldinger-Melich P, Wadsak W, Winkler D, Hacker M, Rujescu D, Domschke K, Lanzenberger R, Spies M. Effect of MAOA DNA Methylation on Human in Vivo Protein Expression Measured by [11C]harmine Positron Emission Tomography. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2023 Feb 14;26(2):116-124. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac085.

  PMID: 36573644 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Interventions

Phototherapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Rupert Lanzenberger, MD, PD, A/Prof.

  Medical University of Vienna, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc. Prof. PD Dr. Rupert Lanzenberger, MD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 4, 2015
• First Posted: October 21, 2015
• Study Start: November 1, 2013
• Primary Completion: April 3, 2017
• Study Completion: April 3, 2017
• Last Updated: May 9, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-05

Locations

AU (1)