Light Therapy for Depression

Overseen By Kathryn Roecklein, PhD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Must be taking: SSRIs

Must not be taking: Psychotropics, Photosensitizers

Disqualifiers: Intellectual disability, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 1 week

80 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how different types of light, specifically blue light (Bright Light Therapy or Phototherapy) and red light (Low-Level Laser Therapy or Photobiomodulation), affect brain function in people with depression. The research aims to determine if blue light stabilizes emotions more effectively than red light and whether this effect is stronger in teenagers compared to young adults. Participants will undergo brain scans, light sensitivity tests, and monitor their sleep patterns at home. Those experiencing persistent low mood and noticeable depressive symptoms may be well-suited for the trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research in mental health treatment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you can continue taking stable SSRI medication if you've been on it for more than 2 months. Other psychotropic medications are not allowed.

What prior data suggests that this light therapy is safe for depression?

Research shows that blue light therapy is generally easy for patients to handle. Studies have found it effective for both seasonal and non-seasonal depression. People using bright light therapy, which includes blue light, often report feeling less depressed. Importantly, these studies confirm that blue light therapy is safe for treating depression.

For red light therapy, research indicates it is a safe and non-invasive option, usually without side effects. Some studies suggest it might help with mood and anxiety, but more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness for depression.

Both therapies are considered safe based on current studies, making them promising options for managing depression. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using light therapy for depression because it offers a non-invasive and drug-free alternative to traditional treatments like antidepressants and psychotherapy. Unlike standard treatments, which can take weeks to show effectiveness, light therapy has the potential to produce quicker results. The study explores both blue light and red light, which work by targeting different wavelengths to influence mood-regulating chemicals in the brain. This innovative approach could provide a new avenue for those who have not responded well to conventional treatments.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for depression?

Research has shown that blue light therapy can help reduce symptoms of depression. A review of 15 studies found that bright light therapy, which includes blue light, helped many people with depression. It has been effective for both teenagers and adults. However, researchers are still studying the specific effects of blue light alone, with some results suggesting it may be beneficial. In this trial, participants will receive blue light therapy followed by red light therapy, or vice versa, to evaluate their combined and individual effects.

For red light therapy, research suggests it can help with depression. Using red light to influence brain activity, known as transcranial photobiomodulation, showed moderate to significant improvements in depression. These findings suggest that both blue and red light therapies might help treat depression, but more research is needed to fully understand their effectiveness. ^{2 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Adriane M Soehner, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adolescents and young adults with depression who can read and write in English, have no severe medical or neurological issues, are not pregnant or nursing, and haven't had substance/alcohol problems recently. Participants must be right-handed, not color-blind, off most psychotropic meds except stable SSRIs, and able to maintain a regular sleep schedule.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with major depression.

If I am under 18, my parent or guardian can attend the initial medical interview with me.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been on a stable SSRI medication for over 2 months.

Current pregnancy or nursing

MRI contraindication (e.g., metals in the body, recent tattoo, claustrophobia)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants undergo MRI scans and pupillometry tests to assess the impact of blue versus red light on emotional brain function.

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any delayed effects of light exposure and complete additional surveys.

1-2 weeks

1 visit (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Blue Light
• Red Light

Trial Overview The study tests the effects of blue light versus red light on emotional brain function using MRI scans while participants respond to rewards and losses. It also includes pupillometry to measure light sensitivity, clinical interviews, surveys about mood and health habits like sleep which is tracked at home for a week.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Red Light then Blue Light Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Red light (640 nm) then Blue light (480 nm)

Group II: Blue then Red Light Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Blue light (480 nm) then Red light (640 nm)

Blue Light is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Bright Light Therapy for:

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Non-seasonal depression
• Jet lag
• Sleep disorders

Approved in United States as Blue Light Therapy for:

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Non-seasonal depression
• Circadian rhythm disorders

Approved in Canada as Phototherapy for:

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Non-seasonal depression
• Sleep disorders

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Light therapy (LT) is widely recommended by office-based physicians, with 67.3% endorsing its use, particularly among psychiatrists (91.6%), indicating its acceptance as a treatment option for various disorders.

LT is considered appropriate for a range of conditions beyond seasonal affective disorder (SAD), including non-seasonal depression and jet lag, suggesting that its application could be expanded in clinical practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of Light Therapy by Office-Based Physicians. Winkler-Pjrek, E., Spies, M., Baldinger-Melich, P., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 20 healthy participants, a new bright light therapy (BLT) cabin showed no reports of headaches, which are a common side effect of conventional BLT devices.

While some participants experienced blurring of vision (21.1% prevalence), the absence of headaches suggests that this new technology may improve patient adherence to treatment for seasonal depression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bright light therapy: Minimizing light induced side effects with an innovative light setup. Leichtfried, V., Kantner-Rumplmair, W., Bartenbach, C., et al.[2014]

In a pilot study involving 48 outpatients with major depressive disorder, Bright Light Therapy (BLT) significantly improved depressive symptoms after 3 weeks of daily treatment, with effects lasting for at least 4 weeks.

The study found no significant differences in the efficacy of BLT between patients with melancholic versus atypical features of depression, suggesting that BLT may be a versatile treatment option for various mood disorder subtypes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is there a difference in clinical efficacy of bright light therapy for different types of depression? A pilot study. Naus, T., Burger, A., Malkoc, A., et al.[2018]

In a study of 32 outpatients with bipolar depression, bright light therapy (BLT) significantly improved depression scores compared to dim light, with response rates of 81% for BLT versus 19% for dim light.

BLT was found to be a safe add-on treatment, with similar side effects to dim light exposure, indicating its potential as an effective therapy for bipolar depression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of bright light therapy in bipolar depression. Yorguner Kupeli, N., Bulut, NS., Carkaxhiu Bulut, G., et al.[2018]

Bright light therapy (BLT) is feasible and well-tolerated in an acute psychiatric inpatient setting, with a high adherence rate of 94% and minimal side effects.

Patients receiving BLT showed significant reductions in depressive symptoms and improvements in functioning, with five sessions appearing to be the optimal amount for treatment effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy for Depressive Symptoms on an Acute Psychiatric Floor. Trinh, A., Jain, P., Sabahath, S., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 49 participants with major depressive disorder (MDD), transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM) using low irradiance and low energy did not show significant efficacy compared to sham treatment, indicating that the current dosing may be insufficient for therapeutic effects.

The results suggest that a minimal dose threshold is necessary for t-PBM to be effective in treating MDD, similar to other neuromodulation techniques, highlighting the need for further research to determine optimal dosing parameters.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Very Low-Level Transcranial Photobiomodulation for Major Depressive Disorder: The ELATED-3 Multicenter, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial. Iosifescu, DV., Norton, RJ., Tural, U., et al.[2022]

Bright light therapy (BLT) showed significant antidepressant effects in three pregnant women, with a 33% improvement in depressive symptoms after 2 weeks and a 55% improvement after 4 weeks of treatment.

No side effects were reported during the BLT treatment, indicating it is a well-tolerated option for treating non-seasonal depression in pregnant women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Bright light therapy in pregnant women depression--3 case studies]. Krzystanek, M., Krupka-Matuszczyk, I.[2006]

Bright light therapy (BLT) combined with antidepressants significantly reduced depression scores in patients with bipolar disorder after four and eight weeks, demonstrating its effectiveness in accelerating therapeutic response.

The study, involving 41 patients, suggests that BLT is a safe and clinically relevant treatment option for enhancing the effects of standard antidepressant therapy in bipolar depression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of light therapy as adjunctive treatment in bipolar depression: A pilot study. Cuomo, A., Carmellini, P., Garo, ML., et al.[2023]

Bright-light therapy (BLT) is an effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and non-seasonal depression, showing comparable efficacy to fluoxetine, especially in bipolar disorder, with effects noticeable within one week.

BLT is generally safe with mild side effects, making it a suitable option for various populations, including pregnant women and the elderly, but requires careful management to prevent manic episodes in bipolar patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bright Light as a Personalized Precision Treatment of Mood Disorders. Maruani, J., Geoffroy, PA.[2020]

Photobiomodulation (PBM) using red and near-infrared light shows promise as a low-risk treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), with studies indicating significant antidepressant effects comparable to traditional medications.

The proposed mechanism of action involves enhancing mitochondrial metabolism in brain cells, suggesting that PBM could improve brain function, although more research is needed to determine optimal treatment parameters and confirm its safety and efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Transcranial and systemic photobiomodulation for major depressive disorder: A systematic review of efficacy, tolerability and biological mechanisms. Caldieraro, MA., Cassano, P.[2019]

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876201824002429

The effect of bright light therapy on major depressive disorder Meta-analysis on 15 randomised controlled trials suggested bright light therapy alleviated depressive symptoms. •. Results also showed bright light therapy is ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5403163/

Bright light therapy for depression: A review of its effects on ... The most often-cited evidence suggesting that morning BLT is more efficacious than evening BLT for depression is derived from three trials published in the same ...

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35522196/

Blue-Light Therapy for Seasonal and Non ... The efficacy of blue-light therapy in the treatment of seasonal and non-seasonal MDD remains unproven. Future trials should be of longer duration.

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0213616325000059

Effectiveness of bright light therapy in patients suffering ... Meta-analyses combining evidence from these studies concluded that BLT using between 7500 and 10.000 lux was a safe treatment option for MDD, and a depressive ...

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2624-5175/6/1/5

Bright Light Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder in ... Bright light treatment that was self-administered at home was feasible, acceptable, and effective for adolescent outpatients with depression.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9511000/

Blue-Light Therapy for Seasonal and Non-Seasonal Depression Blue-light therapy was overall well-tolerated. Conclusions. The efficacy of blue-light therapy in the treatment of seasonal and non-seasonal MDD ...

7. psychiatry.org psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/bright-light-therapy-beyond-seasonal-depression

Bright Light Therapy: Growing Evidence Beyond Seasonal ... The study found that bright light therapy was associated with a 41% remission rate in people with nonseasonal depression, significantly higher ...