Low Intensity 'Blue Light' Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Interventions: Device: Blue enriched light with a low intensity; Device: standard light treatment

• Registration Number: NCT01149135
• 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 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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2008-10
• Study Start: 2008-10
• Primary Completion: 2009-03
• Study Completion: 2009-03
• Study First Submitted: 2010-06-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-06-22
• Study First Posted: 2010-06-23
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-08-09
• Last Update Posted: 2011-08-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 22

Inclusion Criteria

• 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

Exclusion Criteria

• 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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
blue enriched light	Blue enriched light with a low intensity	Blue enriched light with a low intensity (750 lux)
Standard light treatment	standard light treatment	standard light treatment 5000K; 10 000 lux

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
SIGH-SAD	weekly	Structured Interview Guide of the Hamilton Depression Scale, seasonal affective disorder version