Dawn simulation treatment of winter depression: a controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine whether dawn simulation was superior to a shorter dimmer "placebo" dawn signal in treating winter depression.


METHODS
In a randomized, parallel design, 22 patients with winter depression were treated with either 1 week of a 2-hour dawn simulation peaking at 250 lux or 1 week of a 30-minute dawn simulation peaking at 0.2 lux. The subjects were told that they would receive either a "gradual" dawn or a "rapid" dawn reaching an intensity that would be dimmer than standard bright light treatment. At the end of both the baseline week and the treatment week, subjects were assessed in a blind manner with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the two dawn treatments.


RESULTS
The 2-hour, 250-lux dawn simulation resulted in Hamilton depression scale scores that were significantly lower than scores after the 30-minute, 0.2-lux dawn simulation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that dawn simulation is an effective treatment for winter depression.
Avery
D H
DH
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
Bolte
M A
MA
Dager
S R
SR
Wilson
L G
LG
Weyer
M
M
Cox
G B
GB
Dunner
D L
DL
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013472:Sunlight
D010919:Placebos