Circadian Sleep-wake Cycles and Light Therapy in Borderline Personality Disorder

University Hospital Basel

Status: Completed

Conditions: Borderline Personality Disorder; Depression; Sleep Disturbances

Treatments: Other: light therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01311193

Velux-425

Details and patient eligibility

About

Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) frequently suffer from emotional instability, daytime fatigue and sleep disturbances. The investigators examined circadian rhythms, sleep and well-being in women with BPD under their habitual life conditions with and without light treatment.

Treated women diagnosed with BPD were investigated during 3 weeks without and 3 weeks with morning LT. Rest-activity cycles were continuously measured using wrist actigraphy, together with proximal skin temperature. Saliva samples were collected weekly to determine the diurnal melatonin rhythm. A range of self-ratings and questionnaires were used to assess depression and clinical state throughout the 6-week protocol. Ten matched healthy women followed the same 6-week protocol without light treatment.

Sex: Female

Ages: 20 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Borderline Personality Disorder (DSM IV-criteria)
• German-speaking
• normal ocular function

Exclusion criteria

• lack of compliance

Trial design

0 participants in 1 patient group

light therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Morning bright light treatment (at 8000 lux for 40min, daily during 3 weeks)

Treatment:

Other: light therapy