Blue LED Light Panel For Treatment of Winter Depression

描述（由申请人提供）：多项研究已经确定，明亮的光疗法可以有效缓解冬季抑郁症（季节性情感障碍，或SAD）的症状。 过去用于治疗SAD的光单元通常发射具有高度可变的光谱特性的多色白色光。 尽管有几项研究试图测试特定波长的红、蓝和绿色光治疗SAD的有效性，但这些研究中使用的设备采用了相对较宽的光带宽。 随着发光二极管（LED）技术的进步，生产具有更窄光带宽的新光治疗设备成为可能。 最近完成的作用光谱表明，446-477 nm是调节褪黑激素分泌的最有效波长范围。 这些结果表明，一种新的视蛋白色素，独立于四个经典的视觉视蛋白，介导光对褪黑激素的影响，并提出了可能性，SAD的光治疗可能共享一个共同的感光系统，因此，类似的光谱敏感性。 本研究的具体目标是：1）生产一种LED面板灯箱，其发射峰值为470 nm的窄带光刺激（30 nm半峰带宽）用于SAD的光治疗; 2）根据公认的联邦和行业指南，通过危害分析确认本器械的安全性，以及3）使用该装置来测试集中在470 nm范围内的光刺激在治疗SAD中是治疗有效的假设。 将在双盲、随机交叉研究设计中测试治疗功效，比较光谱峰值在470 nm（30 nm半峰带宽）的窄带LED光源与峰值发射在700 nm的窄带昏暗红光安慰剂对照。 相对窄带宽蓝光的功效的证明将为未来的研究铺平道路，在未来的研究中，可以进一步测试该光谱范围用于SAD治疗和昼夜节律功能障碍，以便在较低的光强度下最大限度地提高治疗效果，从而减少副作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Multiple studies have established that bright light therapy is effective in alleviating symptoms of winter depression (seasonal affective disorder, or SAD). Light units used for treating SAD in the past have generally emitted polychromatic white light of highly variable spectral properties. Although several studies have attempted to test the effectiveness of specific wavelengths of red, blue and green light for treatment of SAD, the devices used in those studies employed relatively broad bandwidths of light. With the technological advancements in light emitting diodes (LEDs), the production of new light treatment equipment with much narrower bandwidths of light is possible. A recently completed action spectrum demonstrated that 446-477 nm is the most potent wavelength range for regulating melatonin secretion. These results suggest that a novel opsin photopigment, separate from the four classical visual opsins, mediates the effects of light on melatonin and raises the possibility that light treatment for SAD may share a common photoreceptor system and therefore, a similar spectral sensitivity. The specific aims of this proposed study are to: 1) produce an LED panel light box which emits narrow band light stimuli with a 470 nm peak (30 nm half-peak bandwidth) for light treatment of SAD; 2) confirm safety of this device through a hazard analysis based on accepted federal and industrial guidelines, and 3) use this device to test the hypothesis that light stimuli concentrated in the 470 nm range is therapeutically effective in treating SAD. Therapeutic efficacy will be tested in a double-blind, randomized cross-over study design comparing a narrow band LED light source with a spectral peak at 470 nm (30 nm half-peak bandwidth) to a narrow band dim red light placebo control with peak emission at 700 nm. Demonstration of efficacy of relatively narrow bandwidth blue light will pave the way for future studies in which this spectral range may be further tested for SAD treatment and circadian rhythm dysfunctions in order to maximize therapeutic benefits with lower light intensities and therefore, fewer side effects.