Bright Light Therapy for Post-COVID-19 Fatigue

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Post COVID-19 Condition

Treatments: Device: Dim red light therapy; Device: Bright light therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05677932

2022.359

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a randomized placebo-controlled trial to examine the efficacy of two-week bright light therapy for patients with post-COVID-19 fatigue.

Full description

This randomized placebo-controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of BLT in reducing fatigue symptoms after COVID-19 infection. The second aim of the study is to explore the effects of BLT on insomnia, depression and anxiety symptoms.

Method: Each eligible participant will be randomized to either i) bright light therapy (BLT) or ii) dim red light (placebo) treatment for 30-minutes daily at their habitual wake time for a total of two weeks. Participants will be evaluated at baseline, 2nd (end of treatment), and 4th week (post-treatment 2-week) for fatigue and other symptoms.

Enrollment: 36 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 or above
• Capable to give informed consent
• COVID-19 infection confirmed by PCR test or a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) with onset of at least three months
• Reports new onset or exacerbation of fatigue after onset of COVID-19 and lasted for over two months
• Scoring 7 or above for the item "worst level of fatigue during the last 24 hours" in the Brief Fatigue Inventory

Exclusion criteria

• A current or past history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental disorder, organic mental disorder; intellectual disabilities or substance use disorder.
• Presence of contraindications to bright light therapy: for example, history of light induced migraine/ epilepsy; current use of photosensitizing medications; presence of eye disease: e.g. retinal blindness, severe cataract, glaucoma.
• Significant medical condition/ hearing impairment/ speech deficit leading to incapability of completing clinical interview.
• Regular shift-workers
• Trans-meridian flight in the past 3 months and during the study
• Currently receiving any structured psychotherapy
• Self-reported untreated sleep disorders (e.g. severe insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome), psychiatric illness (e.g. depression), or medical conditions associated with fatigue (e.g. anemia, heart failure, autoimmune disorders)
• Enrolment in another clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product or device.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

Bright light therapy

Experimental group

Description:

10,000lux bright light

Treatment:

Device: Bright light therapy

Placebo group

Experimental group

Description:

50 lux dim red light

Treatment:

Device: Dim red light therapy