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

NCT ID: NCT00076245

Last Updated: 2014-06-25

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

61 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2002-11-30

Study Completion Date

2005-11-30

Brief Summary

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

Detailed Description

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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.

Conditions

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Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Study Groups

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1 Light therapy

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Light Therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Light therapy will involve exposure to bright light twice a day.

2 Cognitive behavioral therapy

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

CBT attempts to change maladaptive thoughts and beliefs, and will be conducted twice a week.

3 Light therapy plus cognitive behavioral therapy

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Light Therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Light therapy will involve exposure to bright light twice a day.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

CBT attempts to change maladaptive thoughts and beliefs, and will be conducted twice a week.

4 Control

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Light Therapy

Light therapy will involve exposure to bright light twice a day.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT attempts to change maladaptive thoughts and beliefs, and will be conducted twice a week.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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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
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Kelly Rohan

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Kelly J. Rohan, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)

Locations

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Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Related Links

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http://www.sltbr.org

Society for Light Therapy and Biological Rhythms \[SLTBR\]

http://www.abct.org/Home/

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies \[ABCT\]

Other Identifiers

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R03MH065946

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

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DSIR AT-AS

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

R03MH065946

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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