Dawn simulation vs. lightbox treatment in winter depression: a comparative study.

Dawn simulation, with gradually increasing bedside light in the morning, has shown promising results as an alternative to bright light treatment for winter depression. To compare these treatments, 61 out-patients with winter depression (20-70 years of age, 80% women) were randomized to receive either lightbox treatment with 1500-2500 lux white light for 2 h in the morning for 6 days on an out-patient basis (n=34), or dawn simulation treatment in their homes, with 60 or 90 min of light augmentation time to 100-300 lux, for 2 weeks (n=27). Patients' ratings of improvement on a visual analogue scale (correlating strongly with percentage reduction in an extended Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score) at the end of treatment showed a mean of 40.0% (SD 27.7%) in the dawn simulation group and 57.4% (SD 29.9%) in the lightbox group (P=0.02). The majority of the patients in both groups maintained their improvement during a 9-week follow-up. Age, sex, current major depression or current use of antidepressants did not predict outcome in either group. No serious side-effects were observed.