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Sleep and major depressive disorder: a review of non-pharmacological chronotherapeutic treatments for unipolar depression.

Sleep medicine
September 1, 2019
Jasmyn E A Cunningham et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bright light therapy (BLT) and combination chronotherapies as treatments for unipolar depression.

Results Summary

BLT showed encouraging results, especially as an adjunct to antidepressant medications, and may be beneficial for geriatric and perinatal patients. Combination chronotherapies also appeared promising but lacked strong empirical support.

Population

Unipolar depression patients, including geriatric and perinatal populations.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (4)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
bright light therapy (BLT)
decrease
depression
unipolar depression
-
encouraging
#1
bright light therapy (BLT)
decrease
depression
geriatric patients
-
encouraging
#2
bright light therapy (BLT)
decrease
depression
perinatal patients
-
encouraging
#3
combination chronotherapies
decrease
depression
-
-
encouraging
#4
Abstract

Depression is a significant public health issue, made worse by the absence of response to antidepressant medications by many patients. Given the high degree of overlap between sleep and circadian complaints and depression, chronotherapies are a promising avenue for novel, effective, and fast-acting treatments for depression. A critical literature review was conducted of bright light therapy (BLT) as a treatment for unipolar depression. Additionally, a separate critical literature review was also conducted of several promising, non-pharmacological, combination chronotherapeutic treatments, including BLT, sleep deprivation/wake therapy, and sleep phase advance. Results of BLT as a treatment for depression are encouraging, especially when used as an adjunct to antidepressant medications. It may also be desirable in special populations, such as geriatric and perinatal patients. Overall, results from combination chronotherapies are encouraging, though none has strong empirical support. Combining chronotherapies is an avenue of treatment which should be further explored.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Depressive DisorderDepressive Disorder, MajorHumansPhototherapySleepSleep Phase Chronotherapy
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations21
Citations/Year3.5
Relative Citation Ratio1.26
NIH Percentile58.7%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.28
Normalized Score0.66
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Sleep and major depressive disorder: a review of non-pharmac... | Panacea Index