Effect of ultraviolet light on mood, depressive disorders and well‐being

Abstract

Summary Background Human and animal studies have shown that exposure to ultraviolet light can incite a chain of endocrine, immunologic, and neurohumoral reactions that might affect mood. This review focuses on the evidence from clinical trials and observational studies on the effect of ultraviolet light on mood, depressive disorders, and well‐being. Methods A search was made in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, Psychinfo, CINAHL, Academic Search Premier and Science Direct, and the references of key papers, for clinical trials and observational studies describing the effect of ultraviolet light applied to skin or eyes on mood, depressive disorders, and well‐being. Results Of the seven studies eligible for this review, the effect of ultraviolet light on mood, depressive symptoms and seasonal affective disorders was positive in six of them. Conclusions Of the seven studies, six demonstrated benefit of exposure to ultraviolet radiation and improvement in mood which supports a positive effect of ultraviolet light on mood. Because of the small number of the studies and their heterogeneity, more research is warranted to confirm and document this correlation.

A Review of Daylighting System: For Prototype Systems Performance and Development

“…Melatonin inhibits secretion [65] Excessive UV-B can cause erythema or DNA damage [71] Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease [7,8,68,72] UVA-1 induces pigmentation of IV-VI type Improve psychological problems such as depression and seasonal mood [6,48,73,74] Uncomfortable glare problem [2,75] Reduce the risk of colorectal cancer [69] Excessive heat will cause an increase indoor electrical energy consumption [16] Reduce the incidence of diabetes [72] 2.…”

Neuropeptides and neurohormones in immune, inflammatory and cellular responses to ultraviolet radiation

“…5,6 Too little sunlight leads to deficiency in vitamin D and can precipitate mood disorders in predisposed individuals. 7 Latitude gradients are found for several autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes, with increasing prevalence found with higher latitudes suggesting a role for the interplay between UVR and vitamin D status. 8 Furthermore, phototherapy is used to treat a number of skin disorders including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, polymorphic light eruption, vitiligo, alopecia areata and lichen planus, among others, suggesting that the immunomodulatory effects of UVR regulate some autoimmune disorders.…”

“…Too much sunlight leads to sunburn and mutations in DNA that promote skin tumourigenesis 5,6 . Too little sunlight leads to deficiency in vitamin D and can precipitate mood disorders in predisposed individuals 7 . Latitude gradients are found for several autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes, with increasing prevalence found with higher latitudes suggesting a role for the interplay between UVR and vitamin D status 8 .…”

The effect of narrow‐band ultraviolet B radiation on sleep, happiness, and appetite: A prospective cohort study

“…A recent systematic review exploring the evidence obtained from clinical studies on the effect of UV light or light therapy on mood and depressive disorders included seven studies. 9 In only one study, patients were exposed to broadband UVB (BBUVB). 10 Of the seven studies, six demonstrated a positive effect of UV light on mood.…”