Chronotherapeutic treatments, such as bright
light therapy,
sleep deprivation and sleep phase advance have successfully been established for the treatment of adults with seasonal and major depression. Today,
sleep deprivation is supposed to be the fastest acting
antidepressant we know of. Combined with bright
light therapy, the antidepressive effect can be sustained. Notwithstanding, the effect of
sleep deprivation and bright
light therapy has not yet been studied in adolescents suffering from juvenile depression. However, because of its growing prevalence rates and the insufficient outcomes of established treatments, such as medication and psychotherapy, alternative treatments of juvenile depression are urgently needed. Furthermore, a high percentage of patients suffer from
sleep disorders. Along with their large positive impact on sleep patterns and antidepressive effects, chronotherapeutics are thought to be powerful interventions for patients with juvenile depression. The present study investigates the additional benefit of
sleep deprivation combined with bright
light therapy, as compared to mere bright
light therapy. We hypothesize that both
therapies have a positive impact on depressive symptoms and sleep parameters, but that a combined
therapy enhances and sustains outcomes.