Testing bright light therapy for depression in different settings

This trial is testing bright light therapy (BLT)—a well-established treatment where patients sit in front of a very bright light for 30 minutes each morning—to see how to make it work even better for people with depression. The study will compare three different ways of delivering this treatment: at home alone, in a café-like setting with staff support and social connection, or in the café with additional evening blue-light blocking glasses and personalized timing based on your sleep patterns. Researchers want to understand which approach works best for different people and how the treatment affects your body's internal clock and sleep.

While bright light therapy is already proven to help many people with depression, doctors want to know how to optimize it—making it more effective and practical for real-world use. This trial will identify which patients benefit most from the treatment and whether adding lifestyle support, social connection, or special glasses can make the therapy work even better.