Low Intensity 'Blue Light' Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title:

Randomized and Controlled Study of the Effects of Low Intensity 'Blue Light'in the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01149135
• Other study ID #: METc 2008.184
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: June 22, 2010
• Last updated: August 9, 2011
• Start date: October 2008
• Est. completion date: March 2009

Study information

• Verified date: October 2008
• Source: University Medical Center Groningen
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Netherlands: Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 22
• Est. completion date: March 2009
• Est. primary completion date: March 2009
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

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

Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Mood Disorders
• Seasonal Affective Disorder

Intervention

Device:
• Blue enriched light with a low intensity
30 minutes in the morning, 750 lux
• standard light treatment
standard light treatment, 30 minutes, 10 000 lux

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University Medical Center Groningen

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	SIGH-SAD	Structured Interview Guide of the Hamilton Depression Scale, seasonal affective disorder version	weekly	No