Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Golden, R. N. Articles by Nemeroff, C. B. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Golden, R. N. Articles by Nemeroff, C. B. Depression Seasonal Affective Disorder Antidepressants Other Somatic Therapy

The Efficacy of Light Therapy in the Treatment of Mood Disorders: A Review and Meta-Analysis of the Evidence

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the evidence base for the efficacy of light therapy in treating mood disorders. METHOD: The authors systematically searched PubMed (January 1975 to July 2003) to identify randomized, controlled trials of light therapy for mood disorders that fulfilled predefined criteria. These articles were abstracted, and data were synthesized by disease and intervention category. RESULTS: Only 13% of the studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses revealed that a significant reduction in depression symptom severity was associated with bright light treatment (eight studies, having an effect size of 0.84 and 95% confidence interval [CI] of 0.60 to 1.08) and dawn simulation in seasonal affective disorder (five studies; effect size=0.73, 95% CI=0.37 to 1.08) and with bright light treatment in nonseasonal depression (three studies; effect size=0.53, 95% CI=0.18 to 0.89). Bright light as an adjunct to antidepressant pharmacotherapy for nonseasonal depression was not effective (five studies; effect size=–0.01, 95% CI=–0.36 to 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Many reports of the efficacy of light therapy are not based on rigorous study designs. This analysis of randomized, controlled trials suggests that bright light treatment and dawn simulation for seasonal affective disorder and bright light for nonseasonal depression are efficacious, with effect sizes equivalent to those in most antidepressant pharmacotherapy trials. Adopting standard approaches to light therapy’s specific issues (e.g., defining parameters of active versus placebo conditions) and incorporating rigorous designs (e.g., adequate group sizes, randomized assignment) are necessary to evaluate light therapy for mood disorders.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Hobday Hippocrates, town planning and the sun The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, January 1, 2008; 128(1): 19 - 20. [PDF]

				B. T. Carroll, H. W. Goforth, C. Thomas, N. Ahuja, W. W. McDaniel, M. F. Kraus, D. R. Spiegel, K. N. Franco, L. Pozuelo, and C. Munoz Review of Adjunctive Glutamate Antagonist Therapy in the Treatment of Catatonic Syndromes J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, November 1, 2007; 19(4): 406 - 412. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Terman and J. S. Terman Controlled Trial of Naturalistic Dawn Simulation and Negative Air Ionization for Seasonal Affective Disorder Am J Psychiatry, December 1, 2006; 163(12): 2126 - 2133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. W. Lam, A. J. Levitt, R. D. Levitan, M. W. Enns, R. Morehouse, E. E. Michalak, and E. M. Tam The Can-SAD Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of Light Therapy and Fluoxetine in Patients With Winter Seasonal Affective Disorder Am J Psychiatry, May 1, 2006; 163(5): 805 - 812. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Terman Review: light therapy is an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder Evid. Based Ment. Health, February 1, 2006; 9(1): 21 - 21. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. F. KRIPKE, A. TUUNAINEN, and T. ENDO Benefits of Light Treatment for Depression Am J Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 163(1): 162 - 163. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Hillhouse, J. Stapleton, and R. Turrisi Association of Frequent Indoor UV Tanning With Seasonal Affective Disorder Arch Dermatol, November 1, 2005; 141(11): 1465 - 1465. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Simon Review: bright light therapy and dawn simulation reduce symptom severity in seasonal affective disorder Evid. Based Med., October 1, 2005; 10(5): 146 - 146. [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. B. Klerman Clinical Aspects of Human Circadian Rhythms J Biol Rhythms, August 1, 2005; 20(4): 375 - 386. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. Jean-Louis Bright light treatment an effective addition to antidepressants for non-seasonal depression Evid. Based Ment. Health, August 1, 2005; 8(3): 73 - 73. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Moran Light Therapy Kept in Dark Despite Effectiveness Psychiatr News, May 6, 2005; 40(9): 29 - 29. [Full Text]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2005 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us