Narrow-band blue-light treatment of seasonal affective disorder in adults and the influence of additional nonseasonal symptoms.

Background: Bright visible-spectrum light therapy has proven effective in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and recent basic research suggests that blue wavelengths approximately 470 nm account for that effectiveness. To more stringently test the importance of these wavelengths, bright red-light was used for the placebo (control) condition.

Methods: Thirty subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for SAD were randomized to narrow-band light-emitting diode panels emitting blue- or red-light in this 3-week, parallel, double-blind trial.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of osmotic release oral system methylphenidate in adults with ADHD with assessment of oppositional and emotional dimensions of the disorder.

Background: The realization that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often persists into adulthood has led to increased frequency of diagnosis and treatment in adults. Osmotic release oral system (OROS) methylpheni-date is a long-acting stimulant demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD.

Method: Forty-seven adults entered and 41 completed this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of OROS methylphenidate.