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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Sep 1;172(9):862-9.
doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.14101293. Epub 2015 Apr 10.

Randomized Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Versus Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder: Acute Outcomes

Kelly J Rohan  1 , Jennifer N Mahon  1 , Maggie Evans  1 , Sheau-Yan Ho  1 , Jonah Meyerhoff  1 , Teodor T Postolache  1 , Pamela M Vacek  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomized Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Versus Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder: Acute Outcomes

Kelly J Rohan et al. Am J Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Objective: Whereas considerable evidence supports light therapy for winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD), data on cognitive-behavioral therapy for SAD (CBT-SAD) are promising but preliminary. This study estimated the difference between CBT-SAD and light therapy outcomes in a large, more definitive test.

Method: The participants were 177 adults with a current episode of major depression that was recurrent with a seasonal pattern. The randomized clinical trial compared 6 weeks of CBT-SAD (N=88) and light therapy (N=89). Light therapy consisted of 10,000-lux cool-white florescent light, initiated at 30 minutes each morning and adjusted according to a treatment algorithm based on response and side effects. CBT-SAD comprised 12 sessions of the authors' SAD-tailored protocol in a group format and was administered by Ph.D. psychologists in two 90-minute sessions per week. Outcomes were continuous scores on the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-SAD Version (SIGH-SAD, administered weekly) and Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II, administered before treatment, at week 3, and after treatment) and posttreatment remission status based on cut points.

Results: Depression severity measured with the SIGH-SAD and BDI-II improved significantly and comparably with CBT-SAD and light therapy. Having a baseline comorbid diagnosis was associated with higher depression scores across all time points in both treatments. CBT-SAD and light therapy did not differ in remission rates based on the SIGH-SAD (47.6% and 47.2%, respectively) or the BDI-II (56.0% and 63.6%).

Conclusions: CBT-SAD and light therapy are comparably effective for SAD during an acute episode, and both may be considered as treatment options.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01714050.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no other financial or nonfinancial competing interests.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Participant Flow in a Comparison of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Light Therapy for an Acute Episode of Seasonal Affective Disordera a SAD, seasonal affective disorder. SIGH-SAD, Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression–Seasonal Affective Disorder Version. CBT-SAD, cognitive-behavioral therapy tailored for SAD. SCID, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders–Clinician Version.
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References

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