D F Kripke1. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0667, USA. dkripke@ucsd.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Using bright light for treating major depressive disorders which are not seasonal needs reassessment. METHODS: Clinical trials of light treatment for nonseasonal major depressive disorders were compared with selected trials of light treatment of winter depression and with antidepressant clinical drug trials. RESULTS: Light treatment of nonseasonal depression produces net benefits in the range of 12-35%, often within 1 week. CONCLUSIONS: Light's value for nonseasonal and seasonal depression are comparable. Light appears to produce faster antidepressant benefits than psychopharmacologic treatment. LIMITATIONS: Direct randomizing comparisons between light and medications for nonseasonal depression are not available. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bright light can be combined with standard therapies for treating nonseasonal depressions and appears synergistic.
BACKGROUND: Using bright light for treating major depressive disorders which are not seasonal needs reassessment. METHODS: Clinical trials of light treatment for nonseasonal major depressive disorders were compared with selected trials of light treatment of winter depression and with antidepressant clinical drug trials. RESULTS: Light treatment of nonseasonal depression produces net benefits in the range of 12-35%, often within 1 week. CONCLUSIONS: Light's value for nonseasonal and seasonal depression are comparable. Light appears to produce faster antidepressant benefits than psychopharmacologic treatment. LIMITATIONS: Direct randomizing comparisons between light and medications for nonseasonal depression are not available. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bright light can be combined with standard therapies for treating nonseasonal depressions and appears synergistic.
Authors: Lianqi Liu; Matthew R Marler; Barbara A Parker; Vicky Jones; Sherella Johnson; Mairav Cohen-Zion; Lavinia Fiorentino; Georgia Robins Sadler; Sonia Ancoli-Israel Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2005-04-29 Impact factor: 3.603