Evidence-based treatments for depression, such as antidepressive medication, usually have a latency of 4 to 6 weeks before they achieve a therapeutic effect. Chronotherapy is a group of non-pharmacological interventions that presumably act on the circadian system to achieve a rapid-onset clinical effect and better long-term effects and has been shown efficient to improve depressive symptoms. Interventions include sleep deprivation, sleep-phase advancement and stabilization, and light therapy. There are few studies testing the effectiveness of combining these three chronotherapeutic techniques in the initial phase of treatment of depression in a mental health care clinic. The investigators aim to test the effects and safety of chronotherapy in addition to TAU compared to TAU alone, with the primary outcome being self-reported depressive symptoms at 1 week following randomization. The study is a randomized controlled trial with 76 patients with a depressive episode who initiate treatment at Nidaros DPS, St. Olavs University Hospital. Participants will be allocated 1:1 to either chronotherapy + treatment as usual (TAU) or to TAU alone.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
76
Chronotherapy involves three different interventions. Sleep deprivation/wake therapy will be conducted for 34 hours. To assist wake and to ensure that the participants adhere to the sleep deprivation, outpatients will be admitted to a one-night stay at the inpatient ward that is connected to the outpatient clinic at Nidaros DPS. Patients already admitted to inpatient treatment will be temporary transferred to the ward selected to oversee the sleep deprivation. Upon discharge, participants are encouraged to adhere to the sleep schedule which presents the sleep-wake phase advancement and later stabilization of the sleep-wake phase. Light therapy is provided for half an hour every day from day four in the study. In addition to the chronotherapeutic interventions, the participants will receive treatment as usual (TAU) with their assigned therapist.
Participants allocated to receive TAU alone, will receive standard treatment for a depressive episode in the outpatient or the inpatient clinic. This study will not give restrictions or guidelines on how this treatment should be performed. The TAU-group will receive the treatment the responsible therapist considers and evaluate best fitting in the situation. Typical interventions administered in therapy for a depressive episode includes medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other psychotherapies.
St. Olavs Hospital, Nidaros DPS
Trondheim, Norway
RECRUITINGBetween-group difference in self-reported levels of depressive symptoms at week 1 after randomization
Assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR), a 30-item questionnaire assessing depressive symptomatology. Items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-84.
Time frame: 1 week after randomization
Between-group difference in observer-rated levels of depressive symptoms at week 1 after randomization.
Assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-6), a 6-item questionnaire for depressive symptoms the last 24 hours. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-22.
Time frame: 1 week after randomization
Between-group difference in observer-rated levels of depressive symptoms at week 2 after randomization
Assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-6), a 6-item questionnaire for depressive symptoms the last 24 hours. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-22.
Time frame: 2 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in observer-rated levels of depressive symptoms at week 4 after randomization.
Assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-6), a 6-item questionnaire for depressive symptoms the last 24 hours. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-22.
Time frame: 4 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in observer-rated levels of depressive symptoms at week 8 after randomization
Assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-6), a 6-item questionnaire for depressive symptoms the last 24 hours. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-22.
Time frame: 8 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in observer-rated levels of depressive symptoms at week 24 after randomization
Assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-6), a 6-item questionnaire for depressive symptoms the last 24 hours. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-22.
Time frame: 24 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in observer-rated levels of depressive symptoms at week 52 after randomization
Assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-6), a 6-item questionnaire for depressive symptoms the last 24 hours. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-22.
Time frame: 52 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported anxiety symptoms at week 1 after randomization
Here assessed with the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), a 7 items self-report scale for central symptoms of anxiety over the last 14 days. The range is 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.
Time frame: 1 week after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported anxiety symptoms at week 2 after randomization.
Here assessed with the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), a 7 items self-report scale for central symptoms of anxiety over the last 14 days. The range is 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.
Time frame: 2 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported anxiety symptoms at week 4 after randomization
Here assessed with the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), a 7 items self-report scale for central symptoms of anxiety over the last 14 days. The range is 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.
Time frame: 4 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported anxiety symptoms at week 8 after randomization
Here assessed with the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), a 7 items self-report scale for central symptoms of anxiety over the last 14 days. The range is 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.
Time frame: 8 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported anxiety symptoms at week 24 after randomization
Here assessed with the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), a 7 items self-report scale for central symptoms of anxiety over the last 14 days. The range is 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.
Time frame: 24 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported anxiety symptoms at week 52 after randomization
Here assessed with the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), a 7 items self-report scale for central symptoms of anxiety over the last 14 days. The range is 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.
Time frame: 52 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported insomnia symptoms at week 1 after randomization
Here assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a 7-item questionnaire for the severity of insomnia symptoms the last 14 days. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. The ISI has good psychometric properties and is validated for online use. Range is 0-28 with higher values represent higher levels of insomnia symptom severity.
Time frame: 1 week after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported insomnia symptoms at week 2 after randomization.
Here assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a 7-item questionnaire for the severity of insomnia symptoms the last 14 days. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. The ISI has good psychometric properties and is validated for online use. Range is 0-28 with higher values represent higher levels of insomnia symptom severity.
Time frame: 2 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported insomnia symptoms at week 4 after randomization
Here assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a 7-item questionnaire for the severity of insomnia symptoms the last 14 days. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. The ISI has good psychometric properties and is validated for online use. Range is 0-28 with higher values represent higher levels of insomnia symptom severity.
Time frame: 4 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported insomnia symptoms at week 8 after randomization
Here assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a 7-item questionnaire for the severity of insomnia symptoms the last 14 days. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. The ISI has good psychometric properties and is validated for online use. Range is 0-28 with higher values represent higher levels of insomnia symptom severity.
Time frame: 8 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported insomnia symptoms at week 24 after randomization
Here assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a 7-item questionnaire for the severity of insomnia symptoms the last 14 days. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. The ISI has good psychometric properties and is validated for online use. Range is 0-28 with higher values represent higher levels of insomnia symptom severity.
Time frame: 24 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported insomnia symptoms at week 52 after randomization.
Here assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a 7-item questionnaire for the severity of insomnia symptoms the last 14 days. Each item is rated on a 0 to 4 rating scale with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. The ISI has good psychometric properties and is validated for online use. Range is 0-28 with higher values represent higher levels of insomnia symptom severity.
Time frame: 52 weeks after randomization
Prospective daily sleep-wake pattern at day 3 after randomization
Here assessed with the Consensus Sleep Dairy and actigraphy, which will be completed by the participant at baseline and each follow-up point for 14 days.
Time frame: 3 days after randomization.
Prospective daily sleep-wake pattern at day 4 after randomization.
Here assessed with the Consensus Sleep Dairy and actigraphy, which will be completed by the participant at baseline and each follow-up point for 14 days.
Time frame: 4 days after randomization.
Prospective daily sleep-wake pattern at week 1 after randomization.
Here assessed with the Consensus Sleep Dairy and actigraphy, which will be completed by the participant at baseline and each follow-up point for 14 days.
Time frame: 1 week after randomization.
Prospective daily sleep-wake pattern at week 2 after randomization.
Here assessed with the Consensus Sleep Dairy and actigraphy, which will be completed by the participant at baseline and each follow-up point for 14 days.
Time frame: 2 weeks after randomization.
Prospective daily sleep-wake pattern at week 4 after randomization.
Here assessed with the Consensus Sleep Dairy and actigraphy, which will be completed by the participant at baseline and each follow-up point for 14 days.
Time frame: 4 weeks after randomization.
Prospective daily sleep-wake pattern at week 8 after randomization
Here assessed with the Consensus Sleep Dairy and actigraphy, which will be completed by the participant at baseline and each follow-up point for 14 days.
Time frame: 8 weeks after randomization.
Prospective daily sleep-wake pattern at week 24 after randomization.
Here assessed with the Consensus Sleep Dairy and actigraphy, which will be completed by the participant at baseline and each follow-up point for 14 days.
Time frame: 24 weeks after randomization.
Prospective daily sleep-wake pattern at week 52 after randomization
Here assessed with the Consensus Sleep Dairy and actigraphy, which will be completed by the participant at baseline and each follow-up point for 14 days.
Time frame: 52 weeks after randomization.
Chronotype at week 8 after randomization.
Here assessed with the Reduced Morningness - Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), a widely used measure of chronotype i.e. time preference for daily activities, including bed-times. The rMEQ has five items yielding scores from 4 to 25, with lower scores indicating "eveningness" and higher scores indicating "morningness". Higher scores indicate higher levels of morningness. Scores can be divided into five categories: definitely evening type (score \<8), moderately evening type (Score 8-11), neither type (score 12-17), moderately evening type (score 18-21), and definitely morning type (score \>21).
Time frame: 8 weeks after randomization
Work and social adjustment at week 1.
Assessed with the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). WSAS is a self-administered questionnaire that measures the subjective experience of functionality in work and social environments. The 5 items are rated on an 8-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 0-40, with a higher score indicating more functional impairment.
Time frame: 1 week after randomization.
Work and social adjustment at week 2.
Assessed with the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). WSAS is a self-administered questionnaire that measures the subjective experience of functionality in work and social environments. The 5 items are rated on an 8-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 0-40, with a higher score indicating more functional impairment.
Time frame: 2 weeks after randomization.
Work and social adjustment at week 4.
Assessed with the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). WSAS is a self-administered questionnaire that measures the subjective experience of functionality in work and social environments. The 5 items are rated on an 8-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 0-40, with a higher score indicating more functional impairment.
Time frame: 4 weeks after randomization
Work and social adjustment at week 8.
Assessed with the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). WSAS is a self-administered questionnaire that measures the subjective experience of functionality in work and social environments. The 5 items are rated on an 8-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 0-40, with a higher score indicating more functional impairment.
Time frame: 8 weeks after randomization
Work and social adjustment at week 24
Assessed with the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). WSAS is a self-administered questionnaire that measures the subjective experience of functionality in work and social environments. The 5 items are rated on an 8-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 0-40, with a higher score indicating more functional impairment.
Time frame: 24 weeks after randomization
Work and social adjustment at week 52
Assessed with the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). WSAS is a self-administered questionnaire that measures the subjective experience of functionality in work and social environments. The 5 items are rated on an 8-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 0-40, with a higher score indicating more functional impairment.
Time frame: 52 weeks after randomization
General health and health-related quality of life at week 1
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: 1 week after randomization.
General health and health-related quality of life at week 2.
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: 2 weeks after randomization.
General health and health-related quality of life at week 4.
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: 4 weeks after randomization.
General health and health-related quality of life at week 8
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: 8 weeks after randomization.
General health and health-related quality of life at week 24
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: 24 weeks after randomization.
General health and health-related quality of life at week 52.
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: 52 weeks after randomization.
Patient satisfaction and experienced negative effects at week 4 after randomization
A self-report measure was developed to assess the subjective experiences of patients in the study. The measure includes items to assess whether there have been positive and negative effects of the interventions and will include a free-text space to elaborate if none of the expected effects are experienced.
Time frame: 4 weeks after randomization.
Serious adverse events will be assessed after 52 weeks after randomization.
Adverse events will be reported to the study team continuously throughout the study period, and will be registered. Any serious adverse events will be reported.
Time frame: 52 weeks after randomization.
Use of health care services at 52 weeks after randomization.
Assessed through questionnaires and health care records.
Time frame: 52 weeks after randomization
Use of health care services at 5 years after randomization
Assessed through questionnaires and health care records.
Time frame: 5 years after randomization
Use of health care services at 10 years after randomization.
Assessed through questionnaires and health care records.
Time frame: 10 years after randomization.
Between-group difference in self-reported levels of depressive symptoms at day 3 after randomization
Assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR), a 30-item questionnaire assessing depressive symptomatology. Items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-84.
Time frame: 3 days after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported levels of depressive symptoms at day 4 after randomization
Assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR), a 30-item questionnaire assessing depressive symptomatology. Items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-84. On day 4, sleep items will be excluded from the questionnaire.
Time frame: 4 days after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported levels of depressive symptoms at week 2 after randomization
Assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR), a 30-item questionnaire assessing depressive symptomatology. Items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-84.
Time frame: 14 days after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported levels of depressive symptoms at week 4 after randomization
Assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR), a 30-item questionnaire assessing depressive symptomatology. Items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-84.
Time frame: 4 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported levels of depressive symptoms at week 8 after randomization
Assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR), a 30-item questionnaire assessing depressive symptomatology. Items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-84.
Time frame: 8 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported levels of depressive symptoms at week 24 after randomization
Assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR), a 30-item questionnaire assessing depressive symptomatology. Items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-84.
Time frame: 24 weeks after randomization
Between-group difference in self-reported levels of depressive symptoms at week 52 after randomization
Assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR), a 30-item questionnaire assessing depressive symptomatology. Items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. The range is 0-84.
Time frame: 52 weeks after randomization
Subjective sleepiness during sleep deprivation
Assessed with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), a 9-item Likert scale, scored from 1 (=extremely alert) to 9 (=extremely sleepy-fighting sleep). The assessment will take place every second hour during the sleep deprivation for the intervention group.
Time frame: Day 3-4 after randomization
Expectations to the interventions at baseline
Assessed with the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS), a 6-item questionnaire that assesses participants' positive and negative expectations to the interventions on a Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree)
Time frame: Day 0 after randomization
Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) at week 1 after randomization
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: Week 1 after randomization
Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) at week 2 after randomization
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: Week 2 after randomization
Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) at week 4 after randomization
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: Week 4 after randomization
Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) at week 8 after randomization
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: Week 8 after randomization
Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) at week 24 after randomization
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: Week 24 after randomization
Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) at week 52 after randomization
Assessed with the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses general health and health-related quality of life at the day of measurement. The 5 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale in addition to a 0-100 rating of overall experienced health condition.
Time frame: Week 52 after randomization
Prospective daily sleep-wake pattern at day -7 before randomization.
Here assessed with the Consensus Sleep Dairy and actigraphy, which will be completed by the participant at baseline and each follow-up point for 14 days.
Time frame: Day -7 before randomization.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.