Testing the Effectiveness of an Evening Blue-depleted Light Environment in an Acute Psychiatric Ward (NCT03788993) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Testing the Effectiveness of an Evening Blue-depleted Light Environment in an Acute Psychiatric Ward
Norway475 participantsStarted 2018-10-23
Plain-language summary
There is increasing recognition of the need to stabilize sleep-wake cycles in individuals with major mental disorders. As such, clinicians and researchers advocate for the use of interventions targeted at sleep and circadian dysrhythmias as an adjunct to the standard treatments offered for acute illness episodes of a broad range of diagnoses. To determine the trans-diagnostic generalizability of chronotherapy, the investigators will explore the benefits of admitting individuals with major mental disorders to an acute psychiatric inpatient unit where changes in light exposure are integrated into the therapeutic environment.
A two-arm pragmatic effectiveness randomized controlled treatment trial, where individuals admitted for inpatient psychiatric care will be allocated to a ward with blue depleted evening light or to a ward with the same layout and facilities but lacking the new lighting technology. The trial will test whether the experimental lighting conditions offer any additional benefits beyond those associated with usual treatment in an acute psychiatric inpatient unit.
The main objectives are to examine any differences between groups in the mean duration of hospitalization in days. Additional analyses will compare groups differences in sleep, functioning, symptoms, medication usage, and side-effects and whether length of stay is associated with stability of sleep-wake cycles and circadian rhythms. Given this unique research opportunity, ancillary investigations will determine any benefits according to diagnostic subgroups and potential drawbacks such as any adverse effects on the well-being of professionals working across both wards.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Individuals aged 18 years or older
* Admitted to the acute inpatient unit at St. Olavs University Hospital, Department Østmarka, Trondheim, Norway during the inclusion period for the study.
* Any patients who are re-admitted during the inclusion period for the study are eligible for re-randomization.
Exclusion Criteria:
Post-randomization, there are four potential reasons for exclusion from the RCT:
* Lack of availability of rooms (as allocated at randomization): acute wards operate at high levels of bed occupancy, so on some occasions there will be no rooms available in the ward to which the individual is allocated (i.e. the randomization process cannot be completed).
* Clinical imperative: on some occasions senior medical or nursing professionals may decide that it is clinically inappropriate to admit an individual to a vacant room in the ward to which they are randomized. The most frequent reasons for this to occur are clinical concerns about (a) how this admission would affect the case mix within the ward (e.g. it may be inappropriate to locate all the patients with an acute episode of mania in one ward, etc.) and/or (b) completing the randomization process may compromise the safety, care and treatment of current inpatients or of the individual being admitted (e.g. it may not be possible to provide the appropriate staff-to-patient ratio required for optimal treatment if all individuals with higher levels of need are located in one ward, etc.).
* …
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Duration of admission
Timeframe: Recorded at the date of discharge (range from 0 to about 150 days).