Bright Light Therapy for Winter Depression: Potential Ocular Effects and Theoretical Implications

Terman, Michael; Remé, Charlotte E.; Rafferty, Brian T.; Gallin, Pamela F.; Terman, Jiuan Su

doi:10.1111/php.1990.51.6.781

Cited by 63 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Light therapy acts on the photoreceptors, at least in the initial phase [46]. Lam [47] studied the EOG in 19 seasonal patients and reported the presence of subtle disorders in the retina, at the photoreceptors level, resulting in a decreased light sensitivity, evident from lower Arden ratios in depressed patients in comparison to controls. Terman et al [48] concluded that it is possible that some environmentally induced, but genetically determined state disorders of the photoreceptors contribute to the development of seasonal depression.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there a dysfunction in the visual system of depressed patients?

et al. 2005

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there a dysfunction in the visual system of depressed patients?

et al. 2005

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“…At this intensity, a duration of 30 minutes per session is usually sufficient, while lower intensities require longer sessions [31, 78, 79]. It is advisable to use a light box with a complete ultraviolet (UV) filter, since cumulative UV radiation can be harmful to eyes and skin [80, 81]. …”

Section: Recommendations For Administration Of Bltmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cumulative light energy can cause damage to skin and eye tissues, especially short-wavelength UV light [78, 80, 81]. Patients with porfyria, macular degeneration, retinal dystrophy, lupus erythematosus, chronic actinic dermatitis, and solar urticaria can have photosensitization reactions to light and should only receive BLT under monitoring of an ophthalmologist or dermatologist [78].…”

Section: Recommendations For Administration Of Bltmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and Evidence

Rutten

Vriend

Heuvel

et al. 2012

Parkinson's Disease

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Sleep disorders are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and seem to be strongly associated with depression. It has been suggested that sleep disorders as well as depression are caused by a disturbed circadian rhythm. Indeed, PD patients are prone to misalignment of their circadian rhythm due to various factors, and many patients with PD display a phase advance of their circadian rhythm. Current treatment options for sleep disorders and depression in patients with PD are limited and can have serious side effects; alternative treatments are therefore badly needed. Bright light therapy (BLT) restores circadian rhythmicity effectively in mood- and sleep-disturbed patients without PD. The few studies that focused on the efficacy of BLT in patients with PD demonstrated a positive effect of BLT not only on sleep and mood but also on motor function. More research on the neurobiology and efficacy of BLT in PD is warranted.

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“…Both experimental and clinical investigations of the nonperceptual aspects of visual stimulation have described the therapeutic effectiveness of light in regulating circadian rhythmicity and menstrual cyclicity and as an antidepressant in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (Terman et al, 1990;Wetterberg, 1993;Terman, 1993;Oren and Terman, 1998). Considerable evidence now indicates that serotonergic mechanisms are involved in some seasonal types of depression (see Rosenthal and Blehar, 1989;Jacobsen et al, 1989;Lam et al, 1996Lam et al, , 1997.…”

Section: Relationship Of the Drn And Visual Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retinal afferents to the dorsal raphe nucleus in rats and Mongolian gerbils

et al. 1999

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A direct pathway from the retina to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) has been demonstrated in both albino rats and Mongolian gerbils. Following intraocular injection of cholera toxin subunit B (CTB), a diffuse stream of CTB‐positive, fine‐caliber optic axons emerged from the optic tract at the level of the pretectum/anterior mesencephalon. In gerbils, CTB‐positive axons descended ventromedially into the periaqueductal gray, moving caudally and arborizing extensively throughout the DRN. In rats, the retinal‐DRN projection comprised fewer, but larger caliber, axons, which arborized in a relatively restricted region of the lateral and ventral DRN. Following injection of CTB into the lateral DRN, retrogradely labeled ganglion cells (GCs) were observed in whole‐mount retinas of both species. In gerbils, CTB‐positive GCs were distributed over the entire retina, and a nearest‐neighbor analysis of CTB‐positive GCs showed significant regularity (nonrandomness) in their distribution. The overall distribution of gerbil GC soma diameters ranged from 8 to 22 μm and was skewed slightly towards the larger soma diameters. Based on an adaptive mixtures model statistical analysis, two Gaussian distributions appeared to comprise the total GC distribution, with mean soma diameters of 13 (SEM ±1.7) μm, and 17 (SEM ±1.5) μm, respectively. In rats, many fewer CTB‐positive GCs were labeled following CTB injections into the lateral DRN, and nearly all occurred in the inferior retina. The total distribution of rat GC soma diameters was similar to that in gerbils and also was skewed towards the larger soma diameters. Major differences observed in the extent and configuration of the retinal‐DRN pathway may be related to the diurnal/crepuscular vs. nocturnal habits of these two species. J. Comp. Neurol. 414:469–484, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Bright Light Therapy for Winter Depression: Potential Ocular Effects and Theoretical Implications

Cited by 63 publications

References 64 publications

Is there a dysfunction in the visual system of depressed patients?

Is there a dysfunction in the visual system of depressed patients?

Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and Evidence

Retinal afferents to the dorsal raphe nucleus in rats and Mongolian gerbils

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