NCT05712772

Neuro-affective Response to Light in Depressed Adolescents and Young Adults

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 12 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this neuroimaging pilot study is to understand developmental differences in the impact of therapeutic wavelength light (blue light) versus a non-therapeutic wavelength (red light) on emotional brain function in depression. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does acute exposure to blue light (vs red light) stabilize emotional brain function in depressed individuals? * Are stabilizing effects of blue light (vs red light) stronger for blue light in adolescents than young adults? Participants will complete: * A magnetic resonance imaging brain scan, in which we will examine the effect of blue versus red light on emotional brain function at rest and in response to rewards and losses. * A pupillometry test of sensitivity to blue vs red light * Clinical interviews and surveys * Screening measures for drug and alcohol use, MRI safety, and current pregnancy \[if relevant\] * Home sleep tracking with sleep diary and actigraphy for one week

Conditions

• Depression in Adolescence
• Depression in Adults

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Blue Light	Blue light exposure
OTHER	Red Light	Red light exposure

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-06-14
• Primary completion: 2026-07-31
• Completion: 2026-07-31
• First posted: 2023-02-03
• Last updated: 2025-08-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States