Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHOD: A randomized, parallel design was used with rater and patients blind to treatment conditions. One week of placebo (phase I) was followed by 5 weeks of treatment (phase II) with fluoxetine (20 mg per day) and a placebo light condition versus bright light (3000 lux, 2 h per day) and a placebo drug. There were 40 patients (20 in each treatment condition) suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) according to DSM-III-R who had a total score on the Hamilton Depression Scale of at least 16. RESULTS: Forty patients entered phase II and 35 completed it (one drop-out in the fluoxetine group and four in the bright light group). Fourteen (70%) of the patients treated with bright light and 13 (65%) of those treated with fluoxetine were responders (NS). The remission rate in the bright light group tended to be superior (bright light 50%, fluoxetine 25%; P = 0.10). Light therapy improved HDRS scores significantly faster, while fluoxetine had a faster effect on atypical symptoms. Light treatment in the morning produced a significantly faster onset of improvement, but at the end of treatment the time of light application seemed not to be crucial. CONCLUSION: Both treatments produced a good antidepressant effect and were well tolerated. An apparently better response to bright light requires confirmation in a larger sample.
|
Authors | S Ruhrmann, S Kasper, B Hawellek, B Martinez, G Höflich, T Nickelsen, H J Möller |
Journal | Psychological medicine
(Psychol Med)
Vol. 28
Issue 4
Pg. 923-33
(Jul 1998)
ISSN: 0033-2917 [Print] England |
PMID | 9723147
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
Chemical References |
- Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
- Fluoxetine
|
Topics |
- Adult
- Double-Blind Method
- Female
- Fluoxetine
(therapeutic use)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Phototherapy
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
(drug therapy, therapy)
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
(therapeutic use)
- Time Factors
|