CBT and Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Overseen By Kelly J Rohan, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Vermont

Must be taking: Antidepressants

Disqualifiers: Bipolar, Psychotic disorders, Substance use, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 14

Duration: 6-8 weeks

141 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

Major depression is a highly prevalent, chronic, and debilitating mental health problem with significant social cost that poses a tremendous economic burden. Winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a subtype of recurrent major depression that affects 5% of the population (14.5 million Americans), involving substantial depressive symptoms for about 5 months of each year during most years, beginning in young adulthood.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kelly J Rohan, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of Vermont

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with major depression that follows a seasonal pattern, known as Winter SAD. Participants should have consistent symptoms each year and not be on changing doses of antidepressants. It's not for those who've had light therapy or CBT for SAD before, have other urgent mental health issues, are at high risk of suicide, will be away during the study period, or have eye conditions affected by bright light.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with seasonal depression that comes back.

I have been on a stable dose of antidepressants for over 4 weeks with no changes planned.

Meet Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD) criteria for a current SAD episode

Exclusion Criteria

Presence of a comorbid Axis I disorder that requires immediate treatment (i.e., bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, substance use disorder)

I have undergone light therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy for seasonal affective disorder.

Acute and serious suicidal intent

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either CBT-SAD or Light Therapy. CBT-SAD involves 12 group sessions over 8 weeks, while Light Therapy involves daily sessions for 6 weeks.

6-8 weeks

12 visits (in-person) for CBT-SAD; daily home sessions for Light Therapy

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for depression recurrence and biomarker assessments in Winter 2 and Winter 3.

2 years

Follow-up visits in Winter 2 and Winter 3

Switch Treatment (if needed)

Participants experiencing depression recurrence are switched to the alternate treatment.

As needed

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-SAD)
• Light Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-SAD) against Light Therapy to see which is more effective in treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The goal is to determine the best long-term treatment approach to reduce depressive episodes during winter months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-SAD) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

12 1.5-hour group sessions at a rate of 2 sessions per week over 8 weeks.

Group II: Light Therapy Active Control 1 Intervention

6 weeks of daily light therapy at home, using a 10,000-lux light box beginning at 30 minutes upon waking, with dose subsequently adjusted per treatment algorithm.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Vermont

Lead Sponsor

Trials

283

Recruited

3,747,000+

University of Maryland, College Park

Collaborator

Trials

163

Recruited

46,800+

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Collaborator

Trials

729

Recruited

540,000+

University of Pittsburgh

Collaborator

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Collaborator

Trials

5

Recruited

790+