Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01064700

Bright Light: A Novel Treatment for Anxiety

The primary aim of this research was to examine the influence of bright light on anxiety in high-anxious young adults. In an acute exposure study, participants were randomly assigned to 45 min of either (1) bright light (3,000 lux) or (2) a placebo inactivated negative ion generator. Treatments were initiated ≤1 hr after awakening. At 10 min before and 30 min after the treatments, state anxiety, mood, and blood pressure were assessed.

Following the acute exposure study, participants performed a 5-week study. Following a a 1-week baseline, participants were randomly assigned to four weeks of daily exposure to either (1) bright light (45 min/day; 3,000 lux) or (2) placebo inactivated negative ion generator, which were initiated ≤1 hr after awakening. Before and after the experiment, clinical ratings were conducted with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the Hamilton Depression Scale, and the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI). Following baseline, and following each week of treatment, blood pressure, as well as questionnaires for state anxiety, depression, mood, sleep, and side effects were assessed.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Mental Disorders Sleep

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Chronobiology Lab, University of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina, 29208, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Having a level of trait anxiety [Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y1)]{23642} that was ≥ the 75th percentile for their age (i.e., ≥ 46 and ≥ 44 for women and men, respectively)

Exclusion criteria

  • Current treatment for anxiety or depression;
  • History of bipolar disorder, mania, or psychotic disorders;
  • History of winter depression, which might bias towards positive response to light;
  • Hypertension;
  • Ophthalmic abnormalities; and
  • Usual exposure to high levels of light such that the intervention would add little to usual exposure.

Treatment and study plan

Litebook Bright Light Box

Device

Four weeks of daily exposure to bright light (3,000 lux) for 45 min/day, beginning within 60 min of arising.

Other names: Phototherapy

Litebook inactivated negation ion generator (the placebo)

Device

Four weeks of daily exposure to inactivated negative ion generator for 45 min/day, beginning within 60 min of arising

Other names: Placebo

Primary outcomes

  1. Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    state anxiety questionnaire

  2. Hamilton Anxiety

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    Hamilton Anxiety Questionnaire

Secondary outcomes

  1. Beck Depression Inventory

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    self-report depression questionnaire

  2. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    PSQI, a common sleep quality questionnaire

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of South Carolina

Other

Collaborators

  • Liteboook Company

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2006
Primary completion
2007
Study completion
2007
First posted
Feb 8, 2010
Registry last updated
Apr 28, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.