Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy in Patients With Bipolar Depression and Eveningness

Launched by CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG · Apr 27, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of bright light therapy as an additional treatment for people with bipolar depression who tend to feel more active in the evenings. The trial will last for six weeks and will compare the effects of bright light therapy to a placebo, which looks and feels like the real treatment but doesn’t actually provide any light therapy. Researchers hope to find out if this therapy can help improve mood and overall well-being for participants.

To be eligible for the study, participants must be between 18 and 65 years old and diagnosed with bipolar depression—either Bipolar I or II. They should be experiencing moderate to severe depression and have a preference for being active in the evenings. However, those with certain conditions, such as major depressive disorder that follows a seasonal pattern, severe eye diseases, or those currently receiving psychotherapy, cannot participate. If you join the study, you can expect to visit the research site, receive bright light therapy, and have your mood and feelings monitored throughout the trial. This could be a great opportunity to explore a new treatment option while contributing to important research in bipolar depression.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Aged 18-65 years.
• • 2. Is capable to give informed consent.
• • 3. Meeting the diagnostic criteria of bipolar depression (including both bipolar I and II disorders) by the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-V), Disorders (SCID-V).
• • 4. a score 20 or above representing current moderate or severe episode of major depression and a score of at least 1 on items H1 or H2 on the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale with Atypical Depression Supplement (SIGH-ADS), corresponding to at least moderate severity.
• • 5. A score of 41 or less by the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire which represents eveningness.
• • 6. On a stable dose of antimanic treatment for bipolar disorder for at least four weeks.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Major Depressive Disorder fulfilling the Seasonal Pattern Specifier of the DSM-V (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
• • 2. A past history of rapid-cycling within the past twelve months or a Young Mania Rating Scale more than 12 at screening
• • 3. A current or past history of schizophrenia, mental retardation, organic mental disorder; or current substance use disorder.
• • 4. Presence of psychotic symptoms or substantial suicidal risk as judged by the clinician and/or screening instruments.
• • 5. Presence of contraindications to bright light therapy: for example, history of light induced migraine/ epilepsy; current use of photosensitizing medications such as St. John's wart; presence of eye disease: e.g. retinal blindness, severe cataract, glaucoma, and photosensitive skin condition e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus
• • 6. Significant medical condition/ hearing impairment/ speech deficit leading to incapability of completing clinical interview.
• • 7. Regular shift-workers or trans-meridian flight in the past 3 months or during study
• • 8. Enrolment in another clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product or device.
• • 9. Receiving regular psychotherapy.