Environmental Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial of Negative Ion Generation Versus Light-Emitting Diode Phototherapy For Seasonal Affective Disorder

The purpose is to study treatments of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

This is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial of negative ion generation versus light-emitting diode phototherapy for seasonal affective disorder. Participants appropriate for the study are subjects with a DSM IV diagnosis of Major Depression, with seasonal pattern, winter type. Subjects were seen at Yale University,New Haven,CT University of British Columbia,Vancouver,BC Groningen University Hospital,Groningen, The Netherlands, Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa,Ontario, McGill University, Montreal,Quebec, University Hospital,Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The trial is 4 weeks in duration.

This trial has now been completed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects meet DSM-IV criteria for major depressive episodes with a seasonal pattern, winter type.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Significant suicidal risk
• Serious medical illness
• Pregnancy
• Other DSM-IV diagnoses
• Taking mood altering medication
• May not travel to a sunny destination during study