The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate whether light therapy is a suitable treatment option for depression and insomnia in Parkinson's disease.
The quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease and their caretakers is mainly influenced by so called non-motor symptoms. This includes neuropsychiatric consequences of the disease like depression and sleeping problems. The incidence of depressed mood in patients with Parkinson is approximately 50%, the incidence for sleeping problems is 90%. These symptoms are often overlooked and even if recognized, inadequately treated. The treatment of mood and sleep disturbances in Parkinson patients is hampered by adverse effects, incomplete responses to the usual treatments and the absence of specific treatment options for these symptoms in Parkinson's disease. On the basis of the hypothesis of disturbed functioning of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in Parkinson's disease it is expected that stimulation of this nucleus by bright light therapy will result in improved functioning on multiple different domains: mood, sleep, motor functions, quality of life and circadian rhythms. Because there are virtually no side effects and the possibility of home treatment, light therapy is expected to be highly appreciated by the patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
83
Light from a commercially available table-mounted lightbox (Brazil, Lumie, Cambridge UK) \[dimensions 50.2 x 32 x 15.4 cm\] equipped with 3x36W Fluorescent bulbs (Osram 954), reflectors and a diffuser screen providing 10,000 lux at 30 cm eye level distance. therapy consists of 30 minutes light exposure in the morning and evening during 3 months.
200 lux light from a commercially available table-mounted lightbox (Brazil, Lumie, Cambridge UK) \[dimensions 50.2 x 32 x 15.4 cm\] To lower the intensity to 200 lux the bulbs are enwrapped with one layer of L299s neutral density filter (LEE Filters, Andover, UK). Therapy consists of 30 minutes light exposure in the morning and evening during 3 months.
VU University Medical Center
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Mood
using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS - 17 items) and Geriatric Depression Scale-30 (GDS - 30 items) at baseline (T0), halfway therapy, six weeks (T1), end of therapy, three months (T2), at 1 month follow-up (T3), 3 months follow-up (T4) and 6 months follow-up (T5). * The direct treatment effect (= difference score between baseline and end of treatment), * The long-lasting treatment effect (= difference score between baseline and end of follow-up). * The dichotomous treatment response (\> 50 % decrease score at T2), in order to calculate the Numbers Needed to Treat (NNT).
Time frame: T0: baseline, T1: change from T0, T2: change from T0, T3: follow-up, change from T0, T4: follow-up, change from T0, T5: follow-up, change from T0
Sleep
using Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Sleep subscale (SCOPA-sleep - 14 items) assessed at baseline (T0), after 6 weeks of light therapy (T1), after 3 months of light therapy (end of treatment, T2), 1 month post-treatment (T3), 3 months post-treatment (T4) and 6 months post-treatment (T5).
Time frame: T0: baseline, T1: change from T0, T2: change from T0, T3: follow-up, change from T0, T4: follow-up, change from T0, T5: follow-up, change from T0
Motor function
using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-Section III motor score (UPDRS-III - 14 items) at 3 time points: at baseline (T0), after 3 months of light therapy (T2) and 6 months follow-up (T5).
Time frame: T0: baseline, T2: after three months therapy, change from T0, T5: six month follow-up, change from T0
Quality of Life of patient
using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Short Version (WHOQOL-BREF) assessed at 3 time points, at baseline (T0), after 3 months of light therapy (T2) and 6 months follow-up (T5).
Time frame: T0: baseline, T2: after three months therapy, change from T0, T5: six month follow-up, change from T0
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Circadian rhythm
Circadian rhythm as measured by melatonin and cortisol day/night curves and actigraphy are assessed at 6 time points, at baseline (T0), after 6 weeks of light therapy (T1), after 3 months of light therapy (T2), 1 month follow-up (T3), 3 months follow-up (T4) and 6 months follow-up (T5).
Time frame: T0: baseline, T1: change from T0, T2: change from T0, T3: follow-up, change from T0, T4: follow-up, change from T0, T5: follow-up, change from T0
Quality of life of caregiver
using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI - 22 items) for caregivers, assessed at 3 time points, at baseline (T0), after 3 months of light therapy (T2) and 6 months follow-up (T5).
Time frame: T0: baseline, T2: after three months therapy, change from T0, T5: six month follow-up, change from T0