Light, Ion, and Fluoxetine Efficacy (LIFE) in Depression

Summary

This study will investigate the additional benefits of light and ion therapy as added treatments to an antidepressant (fluoxetine) in subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD), versus treatment with fluoxetine alone. Outcomes will include depressive symptom rating scales and measures of quality of life, work absence and productivity, and use of health care services. The primary hypotheses are that, in patients with nonseasonal major depressive disorder (MDD) of at least moderate severity: 1) bright light therapy or negative ion therapy will be superior to a placebo condition in reducing symptoms of depression, and 2) the combination of fluoxetine and either bright light or negative ion therapy is more effective than either monotherapy condition.

Timeline

Start

2009-10

Primary completion

2014-02

Completion

2014-05

Publications

• Levitan RD, Levitt AJ, Michalak EE, Morehouse R, Ramasubbu R, Yatham LN, Tam EM, Lam RW. Appetitive Symptoms Differentially Predict Treatment Response to Fluoxetine, Light, and Placebo in Nonseasonal Major Depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2018 Jul 24;79(4):17m11856. doi: 10.4088/JCP.17m11856.
• Lam RW, Levitt AJ, Levitan RD, Michalak EE, Cheung AH, Morehouse R, Ramasubbu R, Yatham LN, Tam EM. Efficacy of Bright Light Treatment, Fluoxetine, and the Combination in Patients With Nonseasonal Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016 Jan;73(1):56-63. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.2235.

Drugs

Indications