The lack of sustained effect of bright light, after discontinuation, in non-seasonal major depression.
BACKGROUND
Recently accumulated evidence has demonstrated that bright-light therapy in combination with antidepressants is effective in patients with non-seasonal major depression. Whether bright light has a sustained effect after discontinuation is, however, poorly investigated.


METHODS
In this double-blind randomized study we report the results from a 4-week follow-up period in patients with major non-seasonal depression who had been treated for 5 weeks with sertraline combined with bright-light therapy or sertraline combined with dim-light therapy. At the beginning of the follow-up period the light therapy was stopped while sertraline treatment continued for 4 weeks.


RESULTS
Depression scores decreased substantially in both groups, resulting in high response and remission rates in both groups after 9 weeks of treatment. The difference in depression scores at week 5, favouring the bright-light-treated group, disappeared gradually in the 4-week follow-up period, resulting in similar end-point scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Bright light did not have a sustained effect after discontinuation. The offset of effect was complete after 4 weeks.
Martiny
Klaus
K
Psychiatric Research Unit, Frederiksborg General Hospital, Hilleroed, Denmark. kmar@fa.dk
Lunde
Marianne
M
Undén
Mogens
M
Dam
Henrik
H
Bech
Per
P
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012621:Seasons; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D020280:Sertraline