Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Dawn simulation vs. lightbox treatment in winter depression: a comparative study

O Lingjaerde1, A R Føreland, J Dankertsen

  • 1Department of Research and Education, Gaustad Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|August 8, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Bright light therapy (lightbox) was more effective than dawn simulation for treating winter depression. Both treatments maintained improvement over nine weeks, with no serious side effects reported.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

AGXT and ERCC2 polymorphisms are associated with clinical outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with 5-FU/oxaliplatin.

The pharmacogenomics journal·2015
Same author

Effects of various anions on serotonin transport in human platelets.

The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry·2003
Same author

Relatives' distress and patients' symptoms and behaviours: a prospective study of patients with schizophrenia and their relatives.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2001
Same author

Personality structure in patients with winter depression, assessed in a depression-free state according to the five-factor model of personality.

Journal of affective disorders·2001
Same author

Winter depression with spring exacerbation: A frequent occurrence in women with seasonal affective disorder.

Psychopathology·1999
Same author

Can winter depression be prevented by Ginkgo biloba extract? A placebo-controlled trial.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·1999

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Chronobiology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Winter depression, a form of seasonal affective disorder, is often treated with bright light therapy.
  • Dawn simulation offers a potentially gentler alternative by gradually increasing light exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy of dawn simulation versus traditional bright light (lightbox) treatment for winter depression.
  • To assess the long-term maintenance of treatment gains.

Main Methods:

  • 61 outpatients with winter depression were randomized to either lightbox treatment (1500-2500 lux for 2 hours daily) or home-based dawn simulation (100-300 lux for 60-90 minutes).
  • Treatment duration was 6 days for lightbox and 2 weeks for dawn simulation.
  • Patient improvement was measured using a visual analogue scale correlated with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Lightbox treatment showed a significantly higher mean improvement (57.4%) compared to dawn simulation (40.0%) (P=0.02).
  • The majority of patients in both groups maintained their symptom improvement at a 9-week follow-up.
  • No serious side-effects were observed in either treatment group.

Conclusions:

  • Bright light therapy (lightbox) appears more effective than dawn simulation for acute treatment of winter depression.
  • Both treatments offer sustained mood improvement for winter depression.
  • Dawn simulation is a safe alternative for winter depression management.