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Controlled trial of bright light and negative air ions for chronic depression
Randomised trial in 32 adults with chronic major depression: five weeks of 10,000 lux bright light or high-density negative air ions for 1 h after awakening produced ~54% mean SIGH-SAD score improvements versus ~17% with low-density ion placebo; remission rates were 50% (light) and 50% (high-density ions) versus 0% on low-density ion control.
Design
- Population: 32 adults (24 F / 8 M) with DSM-IV chronic major depression (episode ≥2 y)
- Arms: bright light 10,000 lux (n = 10), high-density negative air ions (n = 12), low-density ions (placebo, n = 10)
- Dose: 1 h/day on awakening, 5 weeks
- Primary rating: SIGH-SAD weekly by blinded raters; evening saliva melatonin collected for phase analyses
Results (abstract)
- SIGH-SAD improvement: ~53.7% (bright light), ~51.1% (high-density ions) vs ~17.0% (low-density control)
- Remission: 50%, 50%, 0% respectively
Evidence hygiene
- Small n, non-seasonal chronic depression cohort—complements SAD / antepartum bright-light literature on
morning-light-therapy; ions arm is not a daylight substitute for circadian hygiene.
Publication
Goel N, Terman M, Terman JS, et al. Psychol Med. 2005 Jul;35(7):945-955. PMID 16045061.
Outcomes
- SIGH-SAD score improvement ~53.7% with 10,000 lux bright light vs ~17.0% with low-density ion control after 5 weeks (1 h after awakening; chronic major depression trial).
- Remission rates 50% with bright light and 50% with high-density negative air ions vs 0% with low-density ion control (Goel et al. 2005).