scholarly journals Bright Light Treatment of Combat-related PTSD: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn D Youngstedt ◽  
Christopher E Kline ◽  
Alexandria M Reynolds ◽  
Shannon K Crowley ◽  
James B Burch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Treatment Response ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Treatment ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Bright Light Treatment

ABSTRACT Introduction Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent consequence of combat with significant associated morbidity. Available treatments for PTSD have had limitations, suggesting a need to explore alternative or adjuvant treatments. Numerous rationales for bright light treatment of PTSD include its benefits for common PTSD comorbidities of depression, anxiety, and circadian misalignment and its relative ease of use with few side effects. The primary aims of this research were to examine the effects of bright light treatment for combat-related PTSD and associated morbidity. Materials and Methods A randomized controlled trial was performed in N = 69 veterans with PTSD attributable to combat in Afghanistan and/or Iraq. Following a 1-week baseline, participants were randomized to 4 weeks of daily morning bright light treatment (10,000 lux for 30 min/day) or a control treatment (inactivated negative ion generator). At baseline and at the end of treatment, participants were rated blindly on the Clinician Assessed PTSD Scale (CAPS), the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI), and the Hamilton Depression Scale and rated themselves on the PTSD Checklist-Military (PCL-M). Following baseline and each treatment week, participants completed self-reported scales of state anxiety, depression, and sleep, and sleep and the circadian rhythm of wrist activity were also assessed with wrist actigraphy. Results Compared with the control treatment, bright light elicited significantly greater improvements in the CAPS and CGI-Improvement. The bright light also elicited a significantly greater rate of treatment response (reduction ≥33%) for the CAPS (44.1% vs. 8.6%) and PCL-M (33% vs. 6%), but no participant had remission from PTSD. Changes in depression, anxiety, and sleep did not differ between treatments. Improvement in CAPS was significantly correlated with a phase advance of the circadian rhythm of wrist activity. Conclusions The most comprehensive study on the topic to date indicated significant short-term efficacy of bright light treatment on the primary variables (CAPS and CGI) with clinical relevance (i.e., treatment response) in veterans with chronic PTSD who did not report extremely high habitual light exposure. No significant effects were found for anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbance. Further research is warranted, particularly exploration of circadian phase-shifting mechanisms of bright light for PTSD.

scholarly journals The Effect of Bright Light Treatment on Rest–Activity Rhythms in People with Dementia: A 24-Week Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-464
Author(s):  
Eirin Kolberg ◽  
Ståle Pallesen ◽  
Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland ◽  
Inger Hilde Nordhus ◽  
Elisabeth Flo-Groeneboom
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Treatment ◽  
Activity Rhythms ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Rest Activity ◽  
Non Parametric ◽  
Bright Light Treatment

Bright light treatment is an effective way to influence circadian rhythms in healthy adults, but previous research with dementia patients has yielded mixed results. The present study presents a primary outcome of the DEM.LIGHT trial, a 24-week randomized controlled trial conducted at nursing homes in Bergen, Norway, investigating the effects of a bright light intervention. The intervention consisted of ceiling-mounted LED panels providing varying illuminance and correlated color temperature throughout the day, with a peak of 1000 lx, 6000 K between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Activity was recorded using actigraphs at baseline and after 8, 16, and 24 weeks. Non-parametric indicators and extended cosine models were used to investigate rest–activity rhythms, and outcomes were analyzed with multi-level regression models. Sixty-one patients with severe dementia (median MMSE = 4) were included. After 16 weeks, the acrophase was advanced from baseline in the intervention group compared to the control group (B = −1.02, 95%; CI = −2.00, −0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups on any other rest–activity measures. When comparing parametric and non-parametric indicators of rest–activity rhythms, 25 out of 35 comparisons were significantly correlated. The present results indicate that ambient bright light treatment did not improve rest–activity rhythms for people with dementia.

The Effect of Lavender Oil on Perioperative Pain, Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep after Microvascular Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective, Single-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronnie L. Shammas ◽  
Caitlin E. Marks ◽  
Gloria Broadwater ◽  
Elliot Le ◽  
Adam D. Glener ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Breast Reconstruction ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Lavender Oil ◽  
Entire Cohort ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Abstract Background Psychosocial distress, depression, or anxiety can occur in up to 50% of women after a breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential benefit of lavender oil as a perioperative adjunct to improve anxiety, depression, pain, and sleep in women undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction. Methods This was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial of 49 patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction. Patients were randomized to receive lavender oil or placebo (coconut oil) throughout their hospitalization. The effect of lavender oil on perioperative stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, and pain was measured using the hospital anxiety and depression scale, Richards–Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, and the visual analogue scale. Results Twenty-seven patients were assigned to the lavender group and 22 patients were assigned to the control group. No significant differences were seen in the perioperative setting between the groups with regard to anxiety (p = 0.82), depression (p = 0.21), sleep (p = 0.86), or pain (p = 0.30) scores. No adverse events (i.e., allergic reaction) were captured, and no significant differences in surgery-related complications were observed. When evaluating the entire cohort, postoperative anxiety scores were significantly lower than preoperative scores (p < 0.001), while depression scores were significantly higher postoperatively as compared with preoperatively (p = 0.005). Conclusion In the setting of microvascular breast reconstruction, lavender oil and aromatherapy had no significant adverse events or complications; however, there were no measurable advantages pertaining to metrics of depression, anxiety, sleep, or pain as compared with the control group.

scholarly journals Effect of specialized bathing systems on resident cleanliness and water quality in nursing homes: a randomized controlled trial

2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip D. Sloane ◽  
Lauren W. Cohen ◽  
Christianna S. Williams ◽  
Jean Munn ◽  
John S. Preisser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Bacterial Colonization ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Skin Condition ◽  
Microbial Flora ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Staff Satisfaction ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact

A randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of different methods of water agitation on clinical and microbiological outcomes in 31 nursing home residents. Four conditions were tested: a) whirlpool tub, jets on, using standard soap products; b) ultrasound tub, ultrasound on, using the standard soap products; c) ultrasound tub, ultrasound on, using specialized soap and skin conditioner; and d) either tub (randomized), water circulation off, using standard soap products (the control condition). Outcomes of interest included skin microbial flora, water microbial flora, skin condition, time spent bathing, and staff satisfaction. Resident skin condition and skin microbial flora did not differ between the four treatments. The tubs also did not differ in terms of bacterial colonization; however, there was a non-statistically significant trend for the highest counts to occur in whirlpool tubs after being idle overnight. The ultrasound and whirlpool tubs were preferred by staff over the control treatment (still water) in terms of sound and overall suitability. In addition, staff reported that the ultrasound tub using enhanced skin cleansers made bathing residents easier and faster than the same tub using standard cleansers.

scholarly journals Randomized controlled trial study of the effects of an online divorce platform on anxiety, depression, and somatization.

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 740-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert Martin Hald ◽  
Ana Ciprić ◽  
Camilla Stine Øverup ◽  
Aleksandar Štulhofer ◽  
Theis Lange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Anxiety Depression
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