Light therapy is an effective treatment for depression. During light therapy, people are exposed to bright light for a minimum of five consecutive mornings for 30 minutes a day. Light therapy can reduce depressive symptoms in about 40 to 60 percent of participants, even if the depression is not seasonal.

Research aim

It is currently impossible to predict whether or not a person will respond to light therapy. In addition, it is not yet known exactly how light therapy works. The goal of this research is to improve light therapy and better understand how it works.

Approach

This is a multicenter study. Two mental health institutions are involved: Leiden University Treatment and Expertise Center (LUBEC) and GGZ-Eindhoven. For this study in Leiden we are looking for 60 people (18+ years) who are going through a depressive episode.

These people will be treated with light therapy for five days a week for 30 minutes. The study will be divided in three groups, and a draw will determine which group a person will be in:

1. Light therapy at home: Light therapy is given according to the Dutch guidelines. The time of day for the treatment varies daily.
2. LightCafé, fixed time: The second group will receive light therapy in a LightCafé. The time of day for the treatment will be the same every day.
3. LightCafé, changing times: The third group receives light therapy in a LightCafé. The time of day for the treatment varies daily.

Important to know:

• The maximum duration of the treatment is three weeks.
• There is no placebo group; all participants will receive light therapy.
• Enrollment outside of this study is not yet possible.
• LUBEC offers this as a module. Upon completion, referral back to the referring physician will be made.

Several measurements will be taken for this study (interviews, questionnaires and movement measurement). Two brain scans (fMRI measurements) will also be taken.

Contact

For more information about this study, please contact: lichttherapie@lubec.nl 

• biological clock
• depression
• fmri
• light therapy
• seasonal affective disorders