Study of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Bright Light Therapy in Young People Aged 12 to 20 with Unipolar Depression and Evening Chronotype

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are examining the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy for depression CBT-D and bright light therapy on adolescents aged 12 to 20 years with unipolar depression and an evening chronotype. The study aims to determine how these treatments affect depression severity, sleep patterns, circadian rhythms, quality of life, daytime symptoms such as sleepiness and fatigue, and overall functioning. This is a randomised controlled trial sponsored by The University of Hong Kong, focusing on youth with depression and eveningness. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups CBT-D plus bright light therapy, CBT-D plus placebo light, or a waiting list control. The active treatments involve eight weekly group sessions of CBT-D, each lasting 90 minutes and held in the afternoon or evening after school. Starting from the second week, participants in both treatment groups will use a portable light device daily at home for 30 minutes over seven weeks. Those in the bright light therapy group receive active blue-green light, while the CBT-D only group receives dim red placebo light. Participants on the waiting list will have the opportunity to receive treatment after the waiting period. During the study, researchers will assess changes in depression symptoms using observer ratings and self-reports at baseline, one week post-treatment, and follow-ups at one and six months for treated participants. Sleep and circadian measures will be tracked through diaries and actigraphy, alongside evaluations of suicidal thoughts, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and fatigue, and quality of life. The study involves regular monitoring and aims to provide a detailed picture of treatment effects over time, with total participation spanning up to six months after treatment.

Effects of CBT and BLT in Youth With Unipolar Depression and Evening Chronotype