A Phase 4 interventional study of Bright Light Therapy Lamp and Modified Dim Lamp in Depressive Symptoms Post Cardiac Surgery or Post Acute Coronary Syndrome, sponsored by McGill University. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-03-22.
Sponsored by McGill University · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment
Bright Light Therapy Efficacy for Depressive Symptoms Following Cardiac Surgery or Acute Coronary Syndrome: Pilot Trial (BEAM-P) is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that seeks to assess the feasibility of conducting a full trial which would assess the efficacy of Bright Light Therapy (BLT) for improving depressive symptoms post-cardiac surgery or acute coronary syndrome.
Overall Study Objective
The Bright Light Therapy Efficacy for Depressive Symptoms Following Cardiac Surgery or Acute Coronary Syndrome: Pilot Trial (BEAM-P) is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that seeks to assess the feasibility of conducting a full trial which would assess the efficacy of Bright Light Therapy (BLT) for improving depressive symptoms post-cardiac surgery or acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Specific Objectives
To assess the feasibility of conducting a full trial, including assessment of recruitment rate, retention rate, adherence, process time, and potential additional data values that should be measured.
Rationale
More than 50,000 Canadians undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (the most common cardiac surgery) each year and over 100,000 are hospitalized for an ACS. Of these patients, at least 15-20% experience depression. Depressed cardiac patients have a nearly 20% increased risk of all-cause mortality, increased risk of cardiac death, and increased risk of experiencing future cardiovascular events. Addressing depression and depressive symptoms in cardiac surgery and ACS patients is therefore crucial. BLT could represent a simple, safe, and cost-effective method of reducing depressive symptoms following cardiac surgery or ACS. BLT has been shown to decrease depressive symptoms in individuals with both seasonal affective disorder and non-seasonal depression in the general population, as well as in a few specific patient populations. However, the efficacy of BLT for reducing depressive symptoms post-cardiac surgery or ACS is unknown. The full BEAM Trial will be the first to study the effects of BLT in this patient population. Since BLT has not yet been investigated in cardiac patients, the feasibility of conducting a large trial of BLT in this population must be determined in order to avoid potential pitfalls and enhance the chances of success of a full trial.
Methods
We will conduct an RCT with a treatment period of 4 weeks and 12 week follow-up post-cardiac surgery or ACS. A total of 38 cardiac surgery or ACS participants will be randomized 1:1 to one of two treatment arms: 1) BLT (10,000 lux light intensity) or 2) Dim light (control group; 500 lux light intensity). Study personnel and participants will be blinded as to treatment allocation. Permutated block randomization will help ensure a balance of known and unknown confounders. Informed consent will be obtained in person from all individuals. Participants in both groups will begin using the lamps in-hospital and will continue the treatment at home for the remainder of the 4 weeks post-surgery or ACS. At baseline and day of discharge, participants will complete the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale short version (DASS-21), and Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires in order to determine index levels of depressive symptomology (PHQ-9, DASS-21) and health-related quality of life (SF-36). A case report form, to collect demographic and clinical information, will also be completed at baseline and day of discharge. There will be a clinic visit at week 4, when patients will return their lamp and complete questionnaires, and study personnel will complete a case report form to monitor treatment adherence. At week 12, participants will have the option to complete their questionnaires online or by mail. To compensate participants for expenses incurred due to participation (parking, childcare, opportunity costs, etc.), they will receive $25 at week 4, and a $20 prepaid VISA card after completing the questionnaires at week 12.
Significance
BLT may be a simple, cost-effective, and safe method of decreasing the severity of depression and depressive symptoms in patients following cardiac surgery or ACS. Even a small reduction in depressive symptoms could have a significant effect on the occurrence of cardiovascular events, cardiac death, and all-cause mortality in this high-risk population. The full BEAM Trial will provide regulators, health care professionals, and patients with important new information about the efficacy of BLT to decrease symptoms of depression in this population. Conducting the BEAM-P study will help ensure the success of carrying out the full BEAM Trial.
1,461 studies on the registry are indexed under Acute Coronary Syndrome; 267 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 15 is below the median of 200 across 869 interventional studies indexed under Acute Coronary Syndrome.
Browse Acute Coronary Syndrome studies →McGill University is the lead sponsor of 244 studies on the registry; 49 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants in this group will receive bright light therapy lamps and will be instructed to use them for 30 minutes every morning within an hour of waking up, everyday for 4 weeks.
Device: Bright Light Therapy Lamp
Participants in this group will receive modified dim lamps and will be instructed to use them for 30 minutes every morning within an hour of waking up, everyday for 4 weeks.
Device: Modified Dim Lamp
TRAVelite Desk Lamp manufactured by Northern Light Technologies, located in Montreal, Quebec. The light is emitted from a lamp. The florescent tubes in the box are covered with a diffusing screen to ensure even distribution of light and protection from ultraviolet light. These lamps also have a stand which enables users to place the box horizontally or vertically on most surfaces. These lamps emit light of intensity 10,000 lux.
TRAVelite Desk Lamp manufactured by Northern Light Technologies, located in Montreal, Quebec. The light is emitted from a lamp. The florescent tubes in the box are covered with a diffusing screen to ensure even distribution of light and protection from ultraviolet light. These lamps also have a stand which enables users to place the box horizontally or vertically on most surfaces. These lamps have been modified to emit light of intensity 500 lux.
Recruitment rate
Time frame: Baseline
Retention rate
Percentage of participants who remain in the study at week 12
Time frame: 12 week follow-up period
Adherence rate
Percentage of participants who used their lamp on ≥60% of mornings within an hour of waking for at least 25 minutes throughout the 4 week treatment period
Time frame: 4 week follow-up period
Determination of process time required
Time frame: Baseline
This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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