Project 170704

Light and Ion Treatment to Enhance Medication Efficacy in Depression (LITE+MED): A Randomized Controlled Trial of Light and Fluoxetine in Nonseasonal Major Depression

170704

Light and Ion Treatment to Enhance Medication Efficacy in Depression (LITE+MED): A Randomized Controlled Trial of Light and Fluoxetine in Nonseasonal Major Depression

$866,760
Project Information
Study Type: Trial Randomized_Controlled_Trial
Therapeutic Area: Mental_Health
Research Theme: Clinical
Disease Area: major depressive disorder
Data Type: Canadian
Institution & Funding
Principal Investigator(s): Lam, Raymond W
Co-Investigator(s): Beaulieu, Serge; Cheung, Amy H; Enns, Murray W; Kiss, Alexander J; Levitan, Robert D; Levitt, Anthony J; Michalak, Erin; Morehouse, Rachel L; Parikh, Sagar V
Institution: University of British Columbia
CIHR Institute: Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
Program: Randomized Controlled Trials
Peer Review Committee: Randomized Controlled Trials - B (RSB)
Competition Year: 2008
Term: 4 yrs 0 mth
Abstract Summary

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects up to 15% of the Canadian population and is one of the leading causes of socioeconomic burden. There are many effective treatments for MDD including antidepressants and counselling, but these treatments are not effective for everyone and they are limited by side effects and accessibility. Light and ion therapies are novel treatments that are effective for winter depression (seasonal affective disorder) and some studies show that they may be effective for nonseasonal depression. In this study, we will investigate the effects of light therapy and negative ion therapy alone and in combination with an antidepressant medication. If found effective, these non-medication treatments can be easily used by people suffering from depression.

Research Characteristics

This project includes the following research characteristics:

Health Technology Assessment
Productivity Outcomes
Scalability Assessment
Patient Reported Outcomes
Multicenter
Knowledge Translation Focus
Safety Focus
Quality of Life
Vulnerable Populations
Combination Therapy
Study Justification

"investigate the effects of light therapy and negative ion therapy alone and in combination with an antidepressant medication"

Novelty Statement

"If found effective, these non-medication treatments can be easily used by people suffering from depression."

Methodology Innovation

randomized controlled trial of light and negative ion therapy, alone and in combination with an antidepressant

Keywords
Antidepressants Combination Light Therapy Major Depressive Disorder Placebo Randomized Controlled Trial