Bright Light Therapy for Depressed Geriatric Inpatients

Launched by MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · May 24, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating the effects of bright light therapy on elderly patients who are hospitalized due to unipolar depression, which is a type of depression that isn’t linked to other mental health disorders. Bright light therapy has been helpful for treating depression in younger patients, but we need to learn more about how it works for older adults, especially those currently in the hospital. The study aims to see if this therapy can improve their mood and overall well-being.

To participate in the trial, individuals must be 60 years or older, currently hospitalized for non-psychotic unipolar depression, and show a certain level of depression severity. However, there are some reasons why someone might not be eligible, such as if they have previously used bright light therapy, have certain medical conditions that make them sensitive to light, or if they are undergoing other treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). For those who qualify, the trial will provide them with bright light therapy during their hospital stay, and they can expect to be monitored for any changes in their depression symptoms. This study could help us understand better ways to support older adults dealing with depression.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion criteria:
• • A current episode of non-psychotic unipolar depression as the primary reason for psychiatric hospitalization
• • Currently hospitalized on the MUSC Senior Care Unit
• • Age 60 years or older
• • HAMD-17 ≥8
• Exclusion criteria:
• • Any prior use of bright light therapy
• • Primary indication for hospitalization is for a disorder other than major depressive disorder (determined by patient's treatment team)
• • Photosensitive medical conditions or current use of photosensitizing medications - if patients have been advised by a treating clinician at any point to avoid sunlight because of their current medication regimen or medical condition, they will be considered to have a photosensitive medical condition and will be excluded from this study.
• • Treatment with ECT; if a patient's condition deteriorates during study participation such that the treatment team feels ECT would be in their best interest, they will be withdrawn from study participation. For logistical and transport purposes, the study team feels that exclusion of patients receiving ECT will be necessarily. Additionally, these patients would likely be excluded from a future larger RCT given that ECT would likely interfere with signal of BLT efficacy.
• • Uncontrolled headaches or any migraines within the last month
• • Major neurocognitive disorder
• • Severe intellectual disability
• • Inability to consent for the study
• • Active psychosis
• • Inmates