Blue Enriched Versus Standard Light Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD)

Gerandomiseerde en Gecontroleerde Studie Naar de Effecten Van Lichttoediening Met Een Hogere Kleurtemperatuur in Vergelijking Met de Standaard Lichttherapie in de Behandeling Van Winterdepressie

One of the most frequently investigated hypothesis of the pathophysiology underlying Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD) or so called winterdepression is a disturbance of circadian rhythms. Since the circadian system is especially sensitive for the blue portion of the light spectrum, a new light therapy device with more blue light (blue enriched polychromatic light) was tested for its efficacy to treat SAD. In chronobiological terms this light is hypothesized to be more potent in inducing non-visual effects. In the present study fluorescent tubes that emit a high portion of short wavelength light on top of the normal wavelengths are tested for its superiority in treating SAD. This blue-enriched light (colour temperature 17000 ºK) is compared to standard light treatment (5000 º K) in SAD patients., The investigators hypothesise that blue- enriched light improve the therapeutic effects of light treatment leading to a higher response or the same response in a shorter time schedule compared to standard light treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 18-65;
• diagnosis of Seasonal affective Disorder, winter type according to DSM-IV;
• SIGH SAD rating higher then or equal to 18 on day 1;
• no other treatments for mood disorder during the study
• stay in the Netherlands during the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• other Axis 1 disorder according to DSM-IV
• acute suicide risk
• use of psychotropic drugs or photosensitizing drugs
• eye diseases other then usual effect of aging
• diabetes or epilepsy
• regular shift work