Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 656-662 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | American Journal of Psychiatry |
| Volume | 162 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders : A review and meta-analysis of the evidence. / Golden, Robert N.; Gaynes, Bradley N.; Ekstrom, R. David; Hamer, Robert M.; Jacobsen, Frederick M.; Suppes, Trisha; Wisner, Katherine L.; Nemeroff, Charles.
In: American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 162, No. 4, 01.04.2005, p. 656-662.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders
T2 - A review and meta-analysis of the evidence
AU - Golden, Robert N.
AU - Gaynes, Bradley N.
AU - Ekstrom, R. David
AU - Hamer, Robert M.
AU - Jacobsen, Frederick M.
AU - Suppes, Trisha
AU - Wisner, Katherine L.
AU - Nemeroff, Charles
PY - 2005/4/1
Y1 - 2005/4/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=16844381315&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=16844381315&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ajp.162.4.656
DO - 10.1176/appi.ajp.162.4.656
M3 - Article
C2 - 15800134
AN - SCOPUS:16844381315
VL - 162
SP - 656
EP - 662
JO - American Journal of Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Psychiatry
SN - 0002-953X
IS - 4
ER -