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This study aims to assess differences in monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) distribution in the brain between seasonal affective disorder patients and healthy controls using positron emission tomography. In addition the investigators aim to demonstrate the impact of light therapy on MAO-A distribution
In addition, a pilot study and a sub-study in healthy controls were performed
This study aims to assess differences in monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) distribution in the brain between seasonal affective disorder patients and healthy controls using positron emission tomography. In addition, the investigators aim to demonstrate the impact of light therapy on MAO-A distribution by investigating patients and controls in the winter before bright light therapy, in the winter after bright-light therapy, and in the summer. Bright light therapy will be placebo controlled, randomized, and double blinded.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Therapy | Experimental | One subgroup of SAD patients and healthy controls respectively will receive bright light therapy using an artificial white light source (PhysioLight LD220 by DAVITA®, www.davita.de/shop/lichttherapiegeraete/lichtduschen-tageslicht/physiolight-ld-220.html) with full-spectrum 10.000lux light intensity. The treatment will be applied 30min per day at a distance of about of 50cm, preferably in the morning, during 3 weeks. |
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| Placebo Light | Placebo Comparator | The second subgroup of the SAD patients and healthy controls will receive a non-biologically active light source (<400nm or >500nm). Here, the lamp will have largely similar shape and size as compared to the therapeutic device, but the fluorescent tube with the high light intensity will be replaced by an ordinary bulb. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Therapy | Other | One subgroup of SAD patients and healthy controls respectively will receive bright light therapy using an artificial white light source (PhysioLight LD220 by DAVITA®, www.davita.de/shop/lichttherapiegeraete/lichtduschen-tageslicht/physiolight-ld-220.html) with full-spectrum 10.000lux light intensity. The treatment will be applied 30min per day at a distance of about of 50cm, preferably in the morning, during 3 weeks. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change in MAO-A specific distribution volume (MAO-A DVs) assessed with PET | PET2 (3 weeks after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline), PET3 (6 months after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline) and PET 2 (3 weeks after PET1) |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change in SAD symptoms assessed with Morningness-Eveningness-Questionnaire (MEQ) | PET2 (3 weeks after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline), PET3 (6 months after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline) and PET 2 (3 weeks after PET1) | |
| Change in SAD symptoms assessed with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale with Atypical Depression Supplement (SIGH-ADS) |
Inclusion Criteria for Patients:
Inclusion criteria for healthy controls:
Exclusion criteria for patients and healthy controls:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Rupert Lanzenberger, MD, PD, A/Prof. | Medical University of Vienna, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy | Vienna | Austria |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41113438 | Derived | Schlosser G, Murgas M, Godbersen GM, Reichel S, Silberbauer L, Nics L, Winkler D, Stimpfl T, Hacker M, Kasper S, Rujescu D, Lanzenberger R, Spies M. Human in vivo assessment of ketamine binding of the serotonin transporter-follow up at a higher dose. Front Neurosci. 2025 Oct 2;19:1651016. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1651016. eCollection 2025. | |
| 40114401 |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D016574 | Seasonal Affective Disorder |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D003866 | Depressive Disorder |
| D019964 | Mood Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D010789 | Phototherapy |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D013812 | Therapeutics |
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| Placebo Light | Other | The second subgroup of the SAD patients and healthy controls will receive a non-biologically active light source (<400nm or >500nm). Here, the lamp will have largely similar shape and size as compared to the therapeutic device, but the fluorescent tube with the high light intensity will be replaced by an ordinary bulb. |
|
| PET2 (3 weeks after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline), PET3 (6 months after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline) and PET 2 (3 weeks after PET1) |
| Change in SAD symptoms assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) | PET2 (3 weeks after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline), PET3 (6 months after PET1) compared to PET 1 (baseline) and PET 2 (3 weeks after PET1) |
| Light exposition assessed with photometer | During the 3 weeks of light therapy (between PET1 and PET2), 3 weeks before PET3 |
| Difference in MAO-A specific distribution volume (MAO-A DVs) assessed with PET between patients and healthy controls | At PET1, PET2, and PET3 |
| Handschuh PA, Murgas M, Winkler D, Winkler-Pjrek E, Hartmann AM, Domschke K, Baldinger-Melich P, Rujescu D, Lanzenberger R, Spies M. Summer and SERT: Effect of daily sunshine hours on SLC6A4 promoter methylation in seasonal affective disorder. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2025 Apr;26(4):159-169. doi: 10.1080/15622975.2025.2477463. Epub 2025 Mar 20. |
| 37322010 | Derived | Spies M, Murgas M, Vraka C, Philippe C, Gryglewski G, Nics L, Balber T, Baldinger-Melich P, Hartmann AM, Rujescu D, Hacker M, Winkler-Pjrek E, Winkler D, Lanzenberger R. Impact of genetic variants within serotonin turnover enzymes on human cerebral monoamine oxidase A in vivo. Transl Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 15;13(1):208. doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02506-2. |
| 36573644 | Derived | Handschuh PA, Murgas M, Vraka C, Nics L, Hartmann AM, Winkler-Pjrek E, Baldinger-Melich P, Wadsak W, Winkler D, Hacker M, Rujescu D, Domschke K, Lanzenberger R, Spies M. Effect of MAOA DNA Methylation on Human in Vivo Protein Expression Measured by [11C]harmine Positron Emission Tomography. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2023 Feb 14;26(2):116-124. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac085. |