Chronotherapy for Depressive Episodes

Launched by ST. OLAVS HOSPITAL · Jan 17, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a treatment approach called chronotherapy for people experiencing depressive episodes. Chronotherapy involves using techniques like adjusting sleep patterns and light exposure to help improve mood more quickly than traditional treatments, which often take several weeks to work. The researchers want to find out if combining these chronotherapy methods with standard care (called treatment as usual, or TAU) can lead to better and faster improvements in depressive symptoms compared to just receiving standard care alone.

To participate in the trial, individuals need to be at least 18 years old and have a moderate to severe depressive episode diagnosed by a qualified therapist and psychiatrist. They should be able to communicate in a Scandinavian language and must score a certain level of depression on a specific rating scale. However, some people may not be eligible if they have certain medical conditions or are pregnant. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive chronotherapy along with standard care or standard care alone and will report their mood changes after one week. This trial aims to gather important information about the effectiveness and safety of this new approach to treating depression.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion criteria. Patients eligible for the trial must comply with all the following at randomization:
• • Being 18 years or older
• • Willing and able to provide a written informed consent
• • Newly diagnosed with an ongoing moderate or severe depressive episode according to the International Classification of Disorders 10th edition (ICD-10) and accepted for outpatient treatment for the depressive episode. The diagnosis is set in consensus of a licensed therapist and a specialist in psychiatry/psychology.
• • The patient must score ≥ 9 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-6.
• • Must be able to communicate in a Scandinavian language
• Exclusion criteria. Patients are considered ineligible for participation if any of the following are present:
• • Illnesses where chronotherapy may be contraindicated (for example epilepsy, ongoing attack of multiple sclerosis, blindness, narcolepsy and psychotic depression).
• • Known pregnancy.
• • Individuals with a known diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder (F60.3).
• • Individuals with a known psychotic disorder
• • Shiftwork or other related social or work circumstances that inhibit participation
• • Participation in an ongoing trial at the outpatient clinic that encompasses digital cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (recruitment to this trial will end in 2023).