Morning Light Exposure for Mood and Suicidal Thoughts in Military Personnel

This study is looking at how morning light exposure might help improve mood and reduce suicidal thoughts in military service members. Researchers are testing two types of light from special glasses: active light (470nm wavelength) and placebo light (578nm wavelength). You would wear these glasses for 30 minutes each morning over two separate two-week periods. The study aims to see if the active light helps regulate your body's natural clock (circadian rhythm), which could then improve your mental health. To join, you need to be a service member aged 18-60, have at least an 8th-grade reading level, and show mild depression or greater on a specific questionnaire. The study is hoping to enroll 480 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 480 participants. It uses a double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, crossover design, meaning neither you nor the researchers will know which light treatment you are receiving at a given time.
What's involved
You would wear special glasses for 30 minutes each morning over two separate two-week periods. You will be assessed for depression, suicidal ideation, and hopelessness the day before and the day after each two-week intervention period.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be assessed the day before and the day after each two-week intervention period. The total duration of follow-up after the final intervention is not specified.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05616819

Effect of Morning Light Exposure on Mood

Recruiting
NAAges 18–60InterventionalPrevention
University of Arizona
~480 participants
Updated 2025-11-04 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Active light exposurePlacebo light exposure

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Suicidal Ideation: Depression
Measured over Participants will be assessed the day before the initiation of the first two-week intervention period and the day following the conclusion of the first two-week intervention period. This will be repeated for the second two-week intervention period.
+6 more outcomes measured
Suicidal Ideation
Regulation, Emotion
1 sites across 1 states
Arizona1

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Ages 18-60 years
At least an 8th grade reading level
Score ≥ 5 (i.e., mild depression or greater) on the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)
Service member of any Armed Forces branch, including active duty, Reserve, or National Guard

Exclusion

Not actively serving in an Armed Force branch
Scored (i.e., \< 5) range on the PHQ-9 (non-depressed)
Pregnant or trying to become pregnant
Breastfeeding
History of psychotic disorder or manic episodes
Bipolar disorder
Diseases of the eye
Have had cataract surgery
Frequent and light-sensitive migraine headaches
Self-reported plan to regularly engage in nightshift work during the 6-week course of the study
  • Suicidal Ideation: DepressionParticipants will be assessed the day before the initiation of the first two-week intervention period and the day following the conclusion of the first two-week intervention period. This will be repeated for the second two-week intervention period.

    The mean response on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), which measures key symptoms of clinical depression. Higher scores on this measure indicate the presence of more severe depressive symptoms.

  • Suicidal Ideation: Association with DeathParticipants will be assessed the day before the initiation of the first two-week intervention period and the day following the conclusion of the first two-week intervention period. This will be repeated for the second two-week intervention period.

    The mean response on the Death Implicit Association Test (D-IAT), which measures the strength of an individuals implicit association between themselves and death. Positive scores: support a stronger association between 'Me-Death' and 'Not Me-Life' than for the opposite pairings; Negative scores: support a stronger association between 'Me-Life' and 'Not Me-Death' than for the opposite pairings. Scores closer to 1/-1 indicate a stronger association than those near 0.

  • Suicidal Ideation: HopelessnessParticipants will be assessed the day before the initiation of the first two-week intervention period and the day following the conclusion of the first two-week intervention period. This will be repeated for the second two-week intervention period.

    The mean response on the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), which measures hopelessness with a series of optimistic or pessimistic statements regarding thoughts about the future, motivation, and expectations. Higher scores on this scale indicate more severe hopelessness.

  • Suicidal Ideation: Suicidal CognitionsParticipants will be assessed the day before the initiation of the first two-week intervention period and the day following the conclusion of the first two-week intervention period. This will be repeated for the second two-week intervention period.

    The mean response on the Suicidal Cognitions Revised (SCS-R), which predicts future suicidal attempts in patients who deny suicidal ideation and prior suicide attempts. Higher scores on this scale are associated with a greater likelihood of an individual attempting suicide in the future.

  • Suicidal Ideation: LonelinessParticipants will be assessed the day before the initiation of the first two-week intervention period and the day following the conclusion of the first two-week intervention period. This will be repeated for the second two-week intervention period.

    The mean response on the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLALS), which measures an individuals subjective feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Higher scores indicate a greater feeling of loneliness.

  • Suicidal Ideation: BurdensomenessParticipants will be assessed the day before the initiation of the first two-week intervention period and the day following the conclusion of the first two-week intervention period. This will be repeated for the second two-week intervention period.

    The mean response on the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ),which measures individual sense of perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB). Higher scores on these sub-scales indicate a greater desire for death/suicide.

  • Suicidal Ideation: ResilienceParticipants will be assessed the day before the initiation of the first two-week intervention period and the day following the conclusion of the first two-week intervention period. This will be repeated for the second two-week intervention period.

    The mean response on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), which measures an individuals adaptability and ability to thrive in adversity. Higher scores on this scale indicated higher resilience which is inversely associated with suicidal ideation.