Menopausal Depression

Sleep & Light Intervention (SALI) for Menopausal Depression

Women are more likely than men to experience mood changes during their lifetime. Changes in hormones across different stages of life can affect mood by disrupting the body’s natural 24-hour sleep and wake cycle (also known as “circadian rhythms”).

Dr. Barbara Parry and her research team have developed an experimental Sleep and Light Intervention (SALI). This study looks at whether adjusting sleep and light exposure can help improve mood.

SALI consists of:

• One night of adjusted sleep (limited to 4 hours at a scheduled time)
• 14 days of light treatment (using a tabletop light box for 30 minutes at the same time each day)

Similar treatments have helped improve mood, energy, and sleep for many people around the world. The goal of this study is to see how well this approach works for women who are at menopausal age.

You may be eligible for our current study if you are:

• Between 45 and 75 years old
• A non-smoker
• Experiencing irregular or no menstrual periods for at least 6 months
• Noticing negative mood changes, such as feeling sad, down, irritable, or hopeless
• Not starting any new medications or treatments

You may not benefit directly from participating, but the information collected may help improve future treatments for women. Participants will be compensated for their time and effort.

If you have questions or would like to find out if you are eligible, please contact our study coordinator, Jennifer Perrott, or call 619-543-7393.

Last updated: 2026-02-09