title: Dawn simulation vs. bright light in seasonal affective disorder: Treatment effects and subjective preference.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies comparing the efficacy of dawn simulation to conventional bright light for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (in parallel groups) have yielded conflicting results. This crossover study investigated treatment outcomes and long-term treatment preference.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty winter depressives were treated for a week with bright light (4.300lx for 30-45min shortly after awakening) or dawn simulation (gradually increasing light during the last 30min of sleep achieving 100lx before alarm beep, with the dawn simulator placed closer to the open eyes for a further 15min: 250lx). The depression level was self-rated using SIGH-SAD-SR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression scores reduced similarly following bright light and dawn simulation: for 43.8% and 42.2% (medians), respectively; efficacy ratio was 23:17. The preference was also similar (21:19). Among those who preferred bright light, the most common reason was that they perceived the bright light to be more effective (19/21; it was more effective, p=0.0096; this subgroup tended to have more severe depression) and ease of use (6/21). Among those who preferred the dawn simulator, the reasons were a more "natural" action (9/19), device compactness and/or time-saving (10/19) and in 4 cases where bright light caused eyestrain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not overhead naturalistic light for dawn simulation, self-rating of depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dawn simulation is similarly effective to bright light in the treatment of winter depression. Patients with more severe depression tended to report greater improvement with bright light; in such cases, this would outweigh the non-clinical advantages of dawn simulation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Timakova 4, 630117 Novosibirsk, Russia; Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine, Bogatkova 175/1, 630089 Novosibirsk, Russia. Electronic address: kvdani@mail.ru.
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Danilenko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Timakova 4, 630117 Novosibirsk, Russia.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ivanova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bright light therapy; Dawn simulation; Seasonal affective disorder