title: A controlled trial of light therapy for the treatment of pediatric seasonal affective disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of light therapy for the treatment of pediatric seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  28 children (aged 7 to 17 years) at two geographically distinct sites were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of bright-light treatment. Subjects initially entered a week-long baseline period during which they wore dark glasses for an hour a day. They were then randomly assigned to receive either active treatment (1 hour of bright-light therapy plus 2 hours of dawn simulation) or placebo (1 hour of clear goggles plus 5 minutes of low-intensity dawn simulation) for 1 week. The treatment phase was followed by a second dark-glasses phase lasting 1 to 2 weeks. After this phase, the children received the alternate treatment. Response was measured using the parent and child versions of the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Seasonal Affective Disorders version (SIGH-SAD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were analyzed as change from baseline. SIGH-SAD-P total depression scores were significantly decreased from baseline during light therapy compared with placebo (one-way analysis of variance, rho = .009), and no differences were found between the placebo and control phases. Subscores of atypical and typical depression were also significantly decreased during the active treatment (rho = .004 and .028, respectively). A similar trend was noted with the SIGH-SAD-C, but this did not reach significance. At the end of the study, 78% of the parents questioned and 80% of the children questioned rated light therapy as the phase during which the child "felt best."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Light therapy appears to be an effective treatment for pediatric SAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Swedo
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Glod
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Teicher
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Hamburger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dow
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome