A Clinical Study of Light Therapy on Depressive Episodes of Bipolar Disorder

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of light-emitting diode(LED) light therapy on Chinese patients with Depressive Episodes of Bipolar Disorder and to gather prime research data and application parameters of LED light source which is not currently available in China.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ages 18 to 65 years
• comply with the DSM-IV diagnosis of Bipolar I or II Disorder and a current depressive episode
• HAMD score ≥17 points
• intake of just one particular psychotropic drug(a mood stabilizer or an atypical antipsychotic drug) except of antidepressants and lasted 2 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria:

• inability to provide informed consent;
• previous treatment with BLT
• presence of another major psychiatric illness such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, lifetime alcohol or substance dependence
• diagnosed with a rapid-cycling bipolar disorder or currently in the mixed state or YMRS score>12 points
• use of antidepressants medications
• significant medical illness such as diabetes mellitus,heart failure, renal failure, severe liver function abnormalities,hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
• pregnancy;
• received magnified electroconvulsive therapy orRepetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the past 3 months
• an eye condition that could be negatively affected by bright light
• suicidal risk or other factor making trial participation clinically inappropriate.