Efficacy of Blue Light Treatment in Patients With Nonseasonal Major Depressive Disorder

Shanghai Mental Health Center, Jingan District, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Yangpu District, Fudan University

To compare the efficacy of blue light, bright light and dim light in the treatment of with nonseasonal major depression disorder(MDD) in adults.

The current study aims to compare the efficacy of blue light, bright light and dim light in the treatment of with nonseasonal major depression disorder(MDD) in adults. 162 patients with nonseasonal MDD will be randomized into three groups (i.e. blue light, bright light or dim light). The treatment will be performed five times a week for the first two weeks. And for the next 2 weeks, the treatment for patients will be undertook three times a week. There will be 16 times in total. The investigators will assess nonseasonal MDD'symptom severity in the baseline, 1 week,2 week, 4 week,6 week and 8 week. Through the study, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD17),14-item Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA14),Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms, Self-Rated version (QIDS-SR)，Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) , Clinical Global Impression scale(CGI), Quality of Life, Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q),Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ),Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status(RBANS),subjective fatigue symptom scale and semantic differential scale will be obtained. The patients will also get individual's data of heart rate and blood pressure.

The blue light will be applied five times a week for the first two weeks. For the next two weeks, this treatment will be applied three times a week.

The bright light will be applied five times a week for the first two weeks. For the next two weeks, this treatment will be applied three times a week.

The dim light will be applied five times a week for the first two weeks. For the next two weeks, this treatment will be applied three times a week.

Patients receive exposure to 100lux blue light, which dominant wave-length is 468nm for 30 minutes in the morning.

Patients receive exposure to 1000lux bright light, which dominant wave-length is 490nm for 30 minutes in the morning.

Patients receive exposure to 100lux dim light, which dominant wave-length is 490nm for 30 minutes in the morning.

It assesses the severity of depression symptom. The responder on HAMD17 is defined as a HAMD17 decrease at least 50% from the baseline at post-treatment.

Inclusion Criteria: meet criteria for major depressive episodes as determined by MINI HAMD17≥17 received antidepressive medication at stable dosages for at least 14 days Exclusion Criteria: Any axis I psychiatric disorder comorbidity who have received formal psychological therapy, MECT or rTMS in 3 months any current significant medical condition especially eye diseases serious suicide risk pregnant or breastfeeding women depression with seasonal pattern treatment-resistant depression epilepsy in the past