Neurobiological Effects of Light on MDD

Inclusion Criteria

• •1. Able to provide informed consent before beginning any study-specific procedures
• •2. Male and female patients at least 18-60 years of age
• •3. Women with reproductive potential must have a negative pregnancy test;
• •4. Meets DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive disorder
• •5. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total score of 15 or greater
• •6. Negative Drug screen for drugs of abuse
• •7. No sleep altering medications, including herbal preparations. If subjects previously taking any of these medications, they need to be 1 week off of medications before starting the study.
• •8. If currently on SSRI, subjects must have been on them for 6-8 weeks.
• •9. PSQI of \>5 and without sleep difficulties unrelated to the depression
• •1. Able to provide informed consent before beginning any study-specific procedures
• •2. Not meet a current or lifetime DSM-IV Axis I disorder
• •2\) Male and female patients at least 18 years of age 3) Women with reproductive potential must have a negative pregnancy test; 4) Medication free, including herbal medications 5) Negative drug screen for drugs of abuse. 6) PSQI of \< 5
• •Healthy volunteers will be excluded if:
• •1. A current or lifetime DSM-IV Axis I disorder.
• •2. A positive urine toxicology screen for illicit substances of abuse (aside from cannabis, if not abusing and agrees to stop use).
• •3. A history of clinically significant cardiac, renal, neurologic, cerebrovascular, metabolic, or pulmonary disease, or other disease or clinical finding that is unstable or that, in the opinion of the investigator, would confound biological assessments.
• •4. Females who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant during the study.
• •5. People who, in investigator's opinion, would be non-compliant with the study procedures.