Morning light therapy for juvenile depression and severe mood dysregulation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Jun 19, 2013Trials

Morning light therapy for young people with depression and severe mood problems: planned randomized trial

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Abstract

A total of 60 patients aged 12 to 18 years will participate in a trial evaluating morning bright-light therapy for juvenile depression and severe mood dysregulation.

The trial will assess the effects of 2 weeks of morning bright-light therapy on symptoms of depression and sleep-wake rhythm disturbances.
Participants will be exposed to either active light (10,000 lux) or inactive light (100 lux) for 10 sessions of 45 minutes each.
A comprehensive test battery will measure depression severity, sleep, and attention before and after treatment, as well as at a 3-week follow-up.
Melatonin levels will be evaluated by assessing the onset of melatonin production in low light conditions.

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BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression in young people is increasing. The predominant co-morbidities of juvenile depression include sleep disturbances and persistent problems with the sleep-wake rhythm, which have shown to influence treatment outcomes negatively. Severe mood dysregulation is another condition that includes depressive symptoms and problems with the sleep-wake rhythm. Patients with severe mood dysregulation show symptoms of depression, reduced need for sleep, and disturbances in circadian functioning which negatively affect both disorder-specific symptoms and daytime functioning. One approach to treating both depression and problems with the sleep-wake rhythm is the use of light therapy. Light therapy is now a standard therapy for ameliorating symptoms of seasonal affective disorder and depression in adults, but has not yet been investigated in children and adolescents. In this trial, the effects of 2 weeks of morning bright-light therapy on juvenile depression and severe mood dysregulation will be evaluated.

METHODS/DESIGN: A total of 60 patients with depression, aged between 12 and 18 years, in some cases presenting additional symptoms of affective dysregulation, will be included in this trial. Morning bright-light therapy will be implemented for 2 weeks (10 sessions of 45 minutes each), either with 'active' light (10,000 lux) or 'inactive' light (100 lux). A comprehensive test battery will be conducted before and after treatment and at follow-up 3 weeks later, to assess depression severity, sleep, and attention parameters. Melatonin levels will be measured by assessing the Dim Light Melatonin Onset.

DISCUSSION: In this pilot study, the use of morning bright-light therapy for juvenile depression and severe mood dysregulation shall be evaluated and discussed.

TRIALS REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN89305231.

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Morning light therapy for juvenile depression and severe mood dysregulation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

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