Research Study of Treatment for Winter Depression With Different Colors of Light

Optimizing Light Wavelength for Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Red Light Box 657 nm; Device: Blue Light Box 467 nm

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 9
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19107
      • Thomas Jefferson University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Red Light Box 657 nm	Device: Red Light Box 657 nm; 657 nm Red LED Light
Active Comparator: Blue Light Box 467 nm	Device: Blue Light Box 467 nm; 467 nm Blue LED Light

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Scale - Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD); Weekly for Three Weeks	Outcome for Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Scale - Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD) reported is the average over 3 weeks. Lower values represent less depressive symptoms. Range is 0-53.	Averaged over Three Weeks During Treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Thomas Jefferson University
• Collaborators: Apollo Health Systems
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: George C Brainard, Ph.D., Thomas Jefferson University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2008
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 22, 2005
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 22, 2005
• First Posted (Estimate): December 23, 2005

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 28, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 2, 2016
• Last Verified: March 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: 080-19000-J11401

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO