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Dose response to adjunctive light therapy in citalopram-treated patients with post-stroke depression. A randomised,
M P Søndergaard1, J O Jarden, K Martiny
1Stroke Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager, Copenhagen, Denmark. mette.sondergaard@ah.hosp.dk
Background:
Post-stroke depression affects the outcome of stroke rehabilitation and is observed in approximately 30% of all stroke patients. We investigated whether the addition of light treatment to medical antidepressants influences the course of depression as measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale.
Methods:
The effect of a combination of light therapy and citalopram in stroke victims receiving citalopram was examined by use of two different doses of light therapy under double-blind conditions. Altogether, 63 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 74.9 years.
Results:
After 4 weeks of therapy, the 6-item subscale of the Hamilton Depression Scale showed a statistically significantly larger improvement in patients receiving high-intensity light treatment compared to those treated with medium-intensity light (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
This pilot study demonstrates a dose response effect of light used as an adjunct therapy to antidepressants in post-stroke patients with major depression.
