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CBT and Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Kelly J Rohan, Ph.D.
Research Sponsored by University of Vermont
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
No use or stable use of antidepressants (i.e., a consistent dose of the same medication maintained for > 4 weeks with no plans to change).
No use or stable use of antidepressants (i.e., a consistent dose of the same medication maintained for > 4 weeks with no plans to change)
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up past 2 weeks
Awards & highlights

Study Summary

This trial is studying a new treatment for major depression, specifically for people with winter seasonal affective disorder.

Who is the study for?
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.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
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.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
Light Therapy may cause eyestrain, headache, irritability, sleep problems or feeling wired. CBT-SAD generally has no side effects but discussing emotional topics can sometimes temporarily increase distress.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I have been on a stable dose of antidepressants for over 4 weeks with no changes planned.
Select...
I have been on a stable dose of antidepressants for over 4 weeks with no changes planned.
Select...
I have been diagnosed with seasonal depression that comes back.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~past 2 weeks
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and past 2 weeks for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II)
Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD)

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-SAD)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
12 1.5-hour group sessions at a rate of 2 sessions per week over 8 weeks.
Group II: Light TherapyActive Control1 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.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

University of Maryland, BaltimoreOTHER
684 Previous Clinical Trials
372,968 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Seasonal Affective Disorder
41 Patients Enrolled for Seasonal Affective Disorder
University of Maryland, College ParkOTHER
154 Previous Clinical Trials
45,344 Total Patients Enrolled
University of VermontLead Sponsor
265 Previous Clinical Trials
3,743,350 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Seasonal Affective Disorder
177 Patients Enrolled for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Media Library

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-SAD) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03691792 — N/A
Seasonal Affective Disorder Research Study Groups: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-SAD), Light Therapy
Seasonal Affective Disorder Clinical Trial 2023: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-SAD) Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03691792 — N/A
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-SAD) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03691792 — N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

How many people are participating in this research?

"That is correct. The clinical trial in question, which was originally posted on September 1st 2018, as indicated by clinicaltrials.gov, is still looking for participants. The study needs to recruit 160 patients from a single site."

Answered by AI

Are there any available positions for participants in this trial?

"Yes, this information is accurate according to the clinicaltrials.gov website. The trial was posted on September 1st, 2018 and has since been updated 27th September 2021."

Answered by AI

Who else is applying?

What state do they live in?
Vermont
How old are they?
65+
What site did they apply to?
University of Vermont, Psychology Department
What portion of applicants met pre-screening criteria?
Met criteria
~22 spots leftby Mar 2025