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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

The recruitment status of this study is unknown because the information has not been verified recently.
Verified September 2009 by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Recruitment status was  Active, not recruiting
Sponsor:
Information provided by:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00076245
First received: January 16, 2004
Last updated: October 20, 2010
Last verified: September 2009
History of Changes
  Purpose

This study will assess the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), commonly called the "winter blues."


Condition Intervention Phase
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Depression
 Behavioral: Light Therapy
Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
 Phase 1

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single Blind
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Cognitive Behavioral Approaches to Seasonal Depression

Resource links provided by NLM:

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Depressive symptoms of participants, assessed through scales, questionnaires, and behavioral tasks [ Time Frame: Measured pre-, during, and post-treatment, and at 6-month and 1-year follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment: 120
Study Start Date: November 2002
Estimated Study Completion Date: November 2004
Arms Assigned Interventions
Experimental: 1 Light therapy Behavioral: Light Therapy
Light therapy will involve exposure to bright light twice a day.
Experimental: 2 Cognitive behavioral therapy Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT attempts to change maladaptive thoughts and beliefs, and will be conducted twice a week.
Experimental: 3 Light therapy plus cognitive behavioral therapy Behavioral: Light Therapy
Light therapy will involve exposure to bright light twice a day.
Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT attempts to change maladaptive thoughts and beliefs, and will be conducted twice a week.
No Intervention: 4 Control

Detailed Description:

SAD is a condition in which people experience depression as a result of seasonal variations in sunlight. Although light therapy is a common treatment for SAD, a large proportion of people with SAD are resistant to this treatment. CBT is effective for nonseasonal depressive disorders, but its use for SAD has not been thoroughly explored. This study will determine whether CBT, alone and combined with light therapy, is as effective as light therapy alone in reducing SAD symptoms.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to light therapy, CBT, a combination of light therapy and CBT, or a control group (no therapy) for 6 weeks. CBT will be conducted twice a week; light therapy will be conducted twice a day. Assessments will be made before, during, and after the study treatment. Depression scales, questionnaires, and behavioral tasks will be used to assess the depressive symptoms of participants. A 6-month and 1-year follow-up visit will also be conducted. During the follow-up visits, participants will be interviewed and will complete a questionnaire and a survey.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
  • Willing and able to participate in the study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Major psychological diagnoses other than SAD
  • Current psychological or psychiatric treatment
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00076245

Locations
United States, Maryland
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20814-4799
Sponsors and Collaborators
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Kelly J. Rohan, PhD Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)
  More Information

Additional Information:
Society for Light Therapy and Biological Rhythms [SLTBR]  This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site
Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy [AABT]  This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Kelly J. Rohan, PhD, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00076245     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: R03 MH65946, DSIR AT-AS
Study First Received: January 16, 2004
Last Updated: October 20, 2010
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
Phototherapy

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Depression
Depressive Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder
 Mood Disorders
Behavioral Symptoms
Mental Disorders

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 16, 2013