PloS one

Daily short-term effects of wake therapy on depression symptoms measured by HAM-D6 in a controlled trial

Updated

Abstract

The wake therapy group achieved a 75.0% response rate by day 5 compared to 25.1% in the exercise group.

  • Wake therapy combined with light therapy showed a significant antidepressant effect within days.
  • Response and remission rates decreased by day 8 in both groups but remained higher in the wake therapy group.
  • Positive mood variation in the evening was associated with a better response to wake therapy.
  • Napping after wake therapy predicted a greater deterioration in mood by day 8.
  • The method was generally well-tolerated, with minimal side effects reported by patients and staff.

Simplified

Key numbers

75.0%
Response Rate Increase
Response rates at day 5 for wake therapy group.
58.6%
Remission Rate Increase
Remission rates at day 5 for wake therapy group.
41.9%
Response Rate Decrease
Response rates at day 8 for wake therapy group.

Full Text

What this is

  • This trial investigates the acute effects of wake therapy combined with light therapy and sleep time stabilization in patients with major depression.
  • Patients were randomized to either wake therapy or exercise, with daily assessments of depression severity.
  • The study reports significant differences in response and remission rates between the two groups over a one-week intervention phase.

Essence

  • Wake therapy combined with light therapy and sleep stabilization produced a rapid antidepressant effect in major depression patients, with notable response and remission rates compared to exercise.

Key takeaways

  • Patients receiving wake therapy showed a response rate of 75.0% by day 5, compared to 25.1% for the exercise group. This indicates a substantial immediate benefit from the wake therapy intervention.
  • Remission rates were also significantly higher in the wake therapy group at 58.6% by day 5, compared to just 6.0% in the exercise group, underscoring the effectiveness of this treatment approach.
  • By day 8, response rates declined to 41.9% for the wake group and 10.1% for the exercise group, indicating a diminishing effect over time that warrants further investigation for maintaining benefits.

Caveats

  • The study's small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings, particularly as participants were predominantly treatment-resistant and unipolar.
  • Statistical analyses were performed within a larger dataset, which may introduce biases and affect the interpretation of results.
  • Patients reported anxiety attacks following wake therapy nights, indicating potential side effects that need to be monitored in clinical practice.

Simplified

Funding

Competing interests

Competing Interests: We have the following interests: This study received financial support and duloxetine from Eli Lilly, Copenhagen Denmark (https://www.eli-lilly.dk/), and AstraZeneca, Copenhagen, Denmark provided funding for a travel grant. Duloxetine is manufactured and marketed by Eli Lilly. Klaus Martiny has had part of his salary for working with the study paid by funding from Eli Lilly, Denmark and has occasionally served as a speaker for pharmaceutical companies with an interest in the drug treatment of affective disorders (Servier and Eli Lilly). Else Refsgaard has had part of her salary for working with the study paid by funding from Eli Lilly Denmark. Per Bech, until August 2008, occasionally received funding from and was a speaker or member of advisory boards for pharmaceutical companies with an interest in the drug treatment of affective disorders (Astra-Zeneca, Lilly, H Lundbeck A/S, and Organon). There are no further patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLoS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors.
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