Use of blue blocking glasses in mania: a feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Use of blue blocking glasses in mania: a feasibility study
IRAS ID
235007
Contact name
DAVID VEALE
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
Bipolar disorder consists of severe mood swings between episodes of mania and depression. The manic phase of bipolar disorder creates havoc in people’s lives – not just for the sufferer but for those within the family,
workplace and community at large, often with unwelcome legal and financial consequences and is costly for the NHS to treat. Bipolar episodes can be provoked by changes in light conditions. Some patients with bipolar disorder may have a seasonal effect with more frequent episodes of mania in the summer months. Light through the eye inhibits the production of a hormone called melatonin. Preventing blue light from entering the eye can create “virtual” darkness for the brain and this may shift the melatonin cycle. A small pilot randomized controlled trial in Norway has suggested that wearing glasses that block blue-light in the evening is feasible and beneficial in the treatment of inpatients with mania. This study suggested that the intervention was useful after only 3 days and had the greatest benefit at 7 days. The aim of our feasibility study is to determine if we can recruit patients with mania in the UK and whether patients can adhere to the intervention. This will be tested by asking patients suffering from mania to wearing BB glasses over 1 week and following them up for 4 weeks. We will measure adherence on a specially devised scale.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1935
Date of REC Opinion
23 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion