Clinical Trials

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 years to age 65 at the time of admission, consistent with admission criteria for the Mood Disorders Unit at Mayo Clinic
• Major Depressive Disorder is, in the judgment of the team physician, the primary diagnosis
• The reason for admission, as per the judgment of the team physician, is exacerbation of depressive symptoms due to a worsening of MDD (see exclusion criteria below)  

Exclusion Criteria: 

• Admitted under involuntary orders
• Inability to understand written or spoken English
• Inability to provide valid written informed consent because of
  • mental retardation
  • an organic brain syndrome
  • any other reason, as per the judgment of the team physician
• Primary diagnosis of a bipolar spectrum disorder (bipolar I or II disorder, or bipolar disorder not otherwise specified)
• The reasons for admission, as per the judgment of the team physician, are not related to exacerbation of MDD, e.g,
  • an adjustment disorder
  • axis II exacerbation
  • effect of substances or substance abuse
  • exacerbation of a comorbid psychiatric disorder
• Psychotic disorder or history of psychotic features
• History of seizure disorder
• History of light-induced migraine
• Retinal blindness, other retinal disease, severe cataracts, or glaucoma
• Severe agitation