Clinical trial NCT00269633: Research Study of Treatment for Winter Depression With Different Colors of Light
Official title: Optimizing Light Wavelength for Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE2
Conditions: Seasonal Affective Disorder
Keywords: Seasonal Affective Disorder
Lead sponsor: Thomas Jefferson University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Apollo Health Systems
First posted: 2005-12-23
Enrollment: 9
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The specific aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that light stimuli concentrated around 467 nm will evoke a significantly stronger therapeutic response in SAD patients compared to light stimuli concentrated around 657 nm at an equal photon density.

The secondary objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of different colors and levels of light in order to optimize therapeutic benefit, while also minimizing side effects and maintaining safety of light exposure.

Detailed description: Studies report as many as 1 out of every 5 Americans is affected by mild to severe Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD, winter depression). Although the exact cause of this condition is unknown, bright light has proven to be an effective therapeutic treatment for many people with SAD. The light sources that have been traditionally used for treatment of SAD produce white light with great variability in the balance of wavelengths that are emitted across the visible spectrum. Although several studies have attempted to test the effectiveness of different wavelengths for treatment of SAD, the devices used in those studies employed broad bandwidths of light. With the technological advancements in light emitting diodes (LEDs) the production of new light therapy equipment with much narrower bandwidths of light is possible. Side effects of exposure to traditional white light therapy for SAD have included hypomanic activation, irritability, headache, eyestrain and nausea. We hypothesize that when the wavelength of light therapy is optimized, it should be feasible to elicit strong therapeutic benefits with lower light intensities and fewer side effects. Previous studies, approved by the Jefferson IRB and successfully completed by our laboratory have shown that some colors of light are more effective in treating SAD than other colors.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Clinical diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder
* Over 18 years old
* Stable sleeping pattern with a bedtime no later than 1 a.m.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant women
* Concurrent psychiatric illness that would preclude compliance with the protocol
* active suicidal or homicidal ideation or plan
* variable psychiatric illness (i.e. rapid cycling disorder or severe premenstrual syndrome)
* individuals with substance abuse or dependence who have not been in remission for at least one year
* individuals taking photosensitizing medications
* individuals with macular degeneration or other ocular conditions which might be adversely affected by light
* less then six weeks after onset of psychotherapeutic treatment

Primary outcomes:
measure: Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Scale - Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD); Weekly for Three Weeks
timeFrame: Averaged over Three Weeks During Treatment
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: Thomas Jefferson University
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University
name: George C Brainard, Ph.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Glickman G, Byrne B, Pineda C, Hauck WW, Brainard GC. Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder with blue narrow-band light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Biol Psychiatry. 2006 Mar 15;59(6):502-7. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.07.006. Epub 2005 Sep 13.
citation: Brainard GC, Sherry D, Skwerer RG, Waxler M, Kelly K, Rosenthal NE. Effects of different wavelengths in seasonal affective disorder. J Affect Disord. 1990 Dec;20(4):209-16. doi: 10.1016/0165-0327(90)90052-a.
citation: Eastman CI, Young MA, Fogg LF, Liu L, Meaden PM. Bright light treatment of winter depression: a placebo-controlled trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998 Oct;55(10):883-9. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.55.10.883.
citation: Lee TM, Chan CC, Paterson JG, Janzen HL, Blashko CA. Spectral properties of phototherapy for seasonal affective disorder: a meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1997 Aug;96(2):117-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1997.tb09915.x.
citation: Lewy AJ, Kern HA, Rosenthal NE, Wehr TA. Bright artificial light treatment of a manic-depressive patient with a seasonal mood cycle. Am J Psychiatry. 1982 Nov;139(11):1496-8. doi: 10.1176/ajp.139.11.1496. No abstract available.
citation: Lewy AJ, Bauer VK, Cutler NL, Sack RL, Ahmed S, Thomas KH, Blood ML, Jackson JM. Morning vs evening light treatment of patients with winter depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998 Oct;55(10):890-6. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.55.10.890.
citation: Oren DA, Brainard GC, Johnston SH, Joseph-Vanderpool JR, Sorek E, Rosenthal NE. Treatment of seasonal affective disorder with green light and red light. Am J Psychiatry. 1991 Apr;148(4):509-11. doi: 10.1176/ajp.148.4.509.
citation: Rosenthal NE, Sack DA, Gillin JC, Lewy AJ, Goodwin FK, Davenport Y, Mueller PS, Newsome DA, Wehr TA. Seasonal affective disorder. A description of the syndrome and preliminary findings with light therapy. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1984 Jan;41(1):72-80. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1984.01790120076010.