Morning Light Treatment at Home to Reduce PTSD Symptoms

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 15

Inclusion Criteria

Probable PTSD based on the PCL-5 score
Fluent in English
Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol

Exclusion Criteria

Current or recent (past 6 months) alcohol or substance abuse problems
Past or present psychotic or bipolar disorders
Significant suicidal ideation or suicidal behaviors in past 6 months
Unable or unwilling to give written informed consent.
Severe hearing and memory problems.
Cognitive impairment or mental retardation that interferes with subject being able to understand study requirements, consent form, etc.
Special events (e.g. weddings, exams, surgery) planned during 5 weeks of study
Unable to travel for study visits
Pending legal cases/litigation
Has a serious or unstable medical illness (including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled diabetes, advanced liver disease, kidney failure, seizures, cancer which is likely to result in hospitalization in next year).
Reports significant chronic migraine. For migraines, subjects will only be excluded if they report that bright light can trigger migraines.
Vision problems, retinal disease, or history of eye surgery.
Taking photosensitizing medications
Have previously had light treatment.
Uncontrolled narcolepsy, sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome
Likely to have undiagnosed, significant sleep apnea
Likely to have undiagnosed, significant restless leg syndrome
Prescribed hypnotics, over the counter sleep aids and antidepressants permitted providing all medications stable for 30 days before and during the study). All current medications must be non-photosensitizing.
If in psychotherapy must have been for at least 30 days.
People taking melatonin will be asked to abstain for a month before and during the study
Has traveled outside the central time zone
Have worked a night-shift the past month.
Has winter depression
Is pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding.
Household has a child <2 years old or a child that does not sleep through the night
Is unavailable for a 5 week period
Fail urine drug test at screening visit (after prescribed medication accounted for)

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Bright Light	Retimer	-
Dim Light	Retimer placebo	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Scores Over 4 Weeks of Treatment	Week 2 and Week 6	The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is the gold standard measure of PTSD symptom severity. Range: 0-80. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes. We will assess change in PCL-5 scores over 4 weeks of treatment \[Week 2 through Week 6 of the study\].

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9) Scores Over 4 Weeks of Treatment	Week 2 and Week 6	The Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9) is the gold standard measure of depression symptom severity. Range: 0-27. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes. We will assess change in PHQ-9 scores over 4 weeks of treatment \[Week 2 through Week 6 of the study\].