Blue Enriched Versus Standard Light Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD)

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Seasonal Affective Disorder

• Registration Number: NCT01048294
• Lead Sponsor: University Medical Center Groningen

Brief Summary

One of the most frequently investigated hypothesis of the pathophysiology underlying Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD) or so called winterdepression 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., The investigators hypothesise that blue- enriched light 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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2005-10
• Study Start: 2005-10
• Primary Completion: 2006-03
• Study Completion: 2006-03
• Study First Submitted: 2010-01-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-01-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-01-12
• Study First Posted: 2010-01-13
• Last Update Posted: 2010-01-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 52

Inclusion Criteria

• age 18-65;
• diagnosis 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

Exclusion Criteria

• other Axis 1 disorder according to DSM-IV
• acute suicide risk
• use of psychotropic drugs or photosensitizing drugs
• eye diseases other then usual effect of aging
• diabetes or epilepsy
• regular shift work

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
SIGH SAD depression observer rating	days 1, 8, 15, 22

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
selfrating of depressive mood	once daily during 22 days

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen; 🇳🇱 Groningen, Netherlands