RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Bright Light Therapy During Residential Alcohol Withdrawal

This study aims to find out if bright light therapy can improve the experience for people who are in hospital to stop drinking alcohol. When you stop drinking, it can be very difficult, and this research explores a new way to support recovery. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one will receive a bright light in their room for 30 minutes each morning, and the other will receive a very dim, 'dummy' light. This treatment will last for 13 days while they are in hospital for alcohol withdrawal. All participants will also receive the standard medical care for withdrawal, including hydration and medication to help manage symptoms. The study wants to see if the bright light makes a difference compared to the dummy light.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Centre Hospitalier St Anne

Enrolment target

100

Start

31 May 2022

Estimated completion

31 May 2025

Alcohol Use Disorder Alcohol Withdrawal

What is this study about?

When someone wants to stop drinking alcohol, especially if they've been drinking a lot for a long time, it's often safest to do so in a hospital. This is called alcohol withdrawal, and it can be a challenging time with uncomfortable and sometimes serious symptoms. Doctors and nurses provide care to help manage these symptoms and keep patients safe.

This study is exploring a new idea to support people during this difficult period: using bright light therapy. You might have heard of bright light therapy being used for things like seasonal depression. The researchers want to see if applying bright light for a short time each morning can help people going through alcohol withdrawal. They are comparing it to a very dim 'dummy' light to fairly assess its effects.

The main goal is to find out if bright light therapy can make the withdrawal process easier or more effective, alongside the usual medical treatments. By understanding this, doctors might be able to offer another helpful tool to support people on their journey to stop drinking alcohol.

Key takeaways

This study investigates if bright light therapy helps people in hospital for alcohol withdrawal.
Participants will receive either bright light or a dummy light for 30 minutes each morning for 13 days.
All usual medical care for withdrawal will continue as normal.
You must be 18-65 years old and receiving hospital treatment for alcohol withdrawal.
Participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be aged between 18 and 65 years old and have been diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder. You should also be planning to come into hospital for at least two weeks to stop drinking alcohol. It's important that you've been drinking heavily recently and that you're thinking about stopping drinking alcohol completely as a goal. You also need to be able to understand what the study involves and agree to take part.

However, there are some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if you have certain eye conditions like cataracts or glaucoma, or if you've had light therapy in the last six months. Pregnant or breastfeeding women also can't take part. We also can't include people with other serious drug use problems (apart from tobacco), serious mental health conditions needing hospital care, or if you have severe memory or thinking problems. If you're currently under legal guardianship, you also won't be able to join.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Do you have an Alcohol Use Disorder diagnosis?
Are you coming into hospital for at least two weeks to stop drinking alcohol?
Are you considering stopping alcohol completely?
Do you have certain eye conditions like glaucoma or cataracts?
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll first discuss the study with a doctor before your hospital stay. Once you're admitted, you'll be randomly put into one of two groups. One group will receive bright light therapy, and the other will receive a 'dummy' light that looks similar but isn't bright. You won't know which type of light you're getting, and neither will the nurses who are looking after you initially.

Every morning for 13 days of your hospital stay, starting on the second day (D1), you'll have a light session in your single room. This will be at 8 am and will last for 30 minutes. Apart from this light treatment, you'll receive all the usual care, including hydration, vitamin B1, and medications called benzodiazepines, which will be gradually reduced over time as part of your standard withdrawal treatment. There are no extra hospital visits or assessments beyond your normal care.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study means you might benefit if the bright light therapy helps with your alcohol withdrawal, potentially making the process smoother or feeling better. However, there's also a chance you'll be in the group receiving the dummy light, in which case you might not experience any direct benefit from the light itself. The main risk is that the light therapy might not work, or in very rare cases, some people might find bright light uncomfortable, but the study is carefully designed to be safe. You can choose to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Adult Emergency Department - Bichât Hospital
Verified postcode
Paris, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'alcohol withdrawal'?

Alcohol withdrawal is the set of unpleasant and sometimes dangerous symptoms that happen when someone who regularly drinks a lot suddenly stops or significantly cuts down their alcohol intake. Being in hospital helps manage this safely.

What is 'bright light therapy'?

Bright light therapy involves sitting near a special lamp that gives off very bright light. It's often used to help with mood, especially during darker months, but this study is looking at its effects during alcohol withdrawal.

Will I still get my usual medication?

Yes, absolutely. All participants will receive the standard medical care for alcohol withdrawal, including any necessary medications, alongside the light treatment.

How long will the light treatment last each day?

If you take part, you will have a light session for 30 minutes each morning at 8 am, for 13 days during your hospital stay.

Will I know if I'm getting the real light or the dummy light?

No, you won't know, and neither will the nurses looking after you. This is to make sure the study results are fair and unbiased.

How to find out more

Pierre Alexis GEOFFROY, PhD

pierrealexis.geoffroy@aphp.fr +33140256048 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.