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    Bright Light Into The Ear Canal Treats Seasonal Depression Effectively In Two Clinical Trials Presented By Valkee And University Of Oulu
    By Anna Ohlden | November 9th 2011 06:18 PM | Print | E-mail | Track Comments

    HELSINKI, November 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

    Valkee ( http://valkee.com), the inventor of the world's first bright light headset, and scientists from the University of Oulu present two clinical trials at the 11th IFMAD International Forum for Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Budapest on November 9th-11th. In addition, the results are published in the peer-reviewed conference supplement of the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice.

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20111108/492444 )

    "We presented earlier that the human brain is sensitive to light. These two clinical trials demonstrate that channeling bright light via ear canal into brain's photosensitive areas effectively prevents and treats seasonal affective disorder," comments Juuso Nissila, Valkee's co-founder and chief scientist.

    "In our first study, 92 % of the patients with seasonal affective disorder achieved full remission measured by the self-rated BDI-21 questionnaire, during the four week study period with a daily 8-12 minute Valkee dose," comments professor Markku Timonen, MD, PhD, and the lead investigator for the two trials at the University of Oulu. The full remission criteria was BDI-21 sum score less than or equal to 7. The daily administration time was personalized at the study clinic.

    In the presented randomized controlled trial, 89 subjects suffering from severe seasonal affective disorder had a 12-min daily Valkee dose at home in three different randomly divided groups (1, 4, 9 lumen). The response rates in the sub-groups were 74-79% for seasonal depression and 47-62% for anxiety symptoms (at least 50% reduction in BDI-21 and HAMA score, respectively, at week 4). The daily administration time was fixed to the morning, after waking up.

    "These two trials show that bright light channeled into the brain via ear canal is an important future method to treat seasonal affective disorder," comments professor Timo Takala, MD, PhD, and chief physician at Oulu Deaconess Institute.

    Valkee launched its bright-light headset in August 2010. Being based on cross-functional science in neurology, biology, psychiatry and physiology in University of Oulu, Finland, Valkee is a CE-certified Class II(a) medical device under the EU regulations.

    The research presentation will be available for download at http://www.valkee.com on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, after its scientific presentation at noon CET.