Chapter 13 - Chronotherapy for Adolescent Major Depression

Abstract

Depressive disorders are among the most prominent health problems in youth. However, despite extensive research efforts, treatment outcomes for depression in children and adolescents remain unsatisfactory. Consequently, in the last decade, research has focused on chronotherapeutic approaches as additive and noninvasive treatment components. Chronotherapeutics such as bright light therapy (BLT), wake therapy, and sleep phase advance are well established in the treatment of depression in adults, and preliminary evidence suggests that BLT also seems to be effective in adolescents. Evidence for children younger than 12 years is scarce. Hence, the following section introduces the three chronotherapeutic approaches and outlines their empirical evidence in the treatment of depression in both adults and adolescents. In addition, recommendations are provided for the application of chronotherapeutics in clinical practice.