Efficacy of light therapy in nonseasonal depression: A systematic review

Even, C.; Schröder, Carmen; Friedman, S.; Rouillon, Frédéric

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2007.09.008

Cited by 207 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Sleep deprivation therapy exerts a rapid and dramatic, albeit usually short-lasting, improvement of mood in the majority of patients with major depressive disorder. Light therapy has been applied to a wide range of mood disorders as standalone therapy or as an adjunct to antidepressant pharmacotherapy [90]. Light acts as a synchronizing agent for disturbed circadian rhythms, while sleep deprivation challenges the sleep-wake homeostat [91,92].…”

Section: Chronobiological Treatments For Sleepiness and Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although until now bright light therapy has been regarded as a first-line treatment only for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) [96], recent studies on non-seasonal depression and the Cochrane meta-analysis on light therapies for this type of depression have provided evidence for the efficacy of bright light as an adjuvant to antidepressant pharmacotherapy [94,97,95,98]. Taking into account the insufficient remission rate of depression solely with pharmacotherapy and the favourable risk-to-benefit ratio of light therapy, it can offer a promising non-pharmacological biologically oriented treatment approach [90].…”

Section: Chronobiological Treatments For Sleepiness and Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chronobiology, excessive daytime sleepiness and depression: Is there a link?

2009

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The complaint of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), commonly encountered in clinical practice, may arise from a variety of psychiatric disorders, most importantly depression. Even though EDS frequently leads depressed patients to seek medical assistance, it is commonly under-evaluated and under-diagnosed. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding and management of EDS is essential in the clinical assessment of depression. Within a theoretical framework, a chronobiological approach may shed new light on the complex interaction of EDS and depression. In this review, studies on EDS and depression are summarized and discussed within the context of circadian and sleep regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, potential chronobiological therapeutic strategies are proposed to address some of the unmet needs in the treatment of EDS and depression.

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Section: Chronobiological Treatments For Sleepiness and Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Chronobiological Treatments For Sleepiness and Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronobiology, excessive daytime sleepiness and depression: Is there a link?

2009

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“…Examples are the use of blue light in the treatment of the neonatal jaundice [1], a phenomenon due to the immature liver function of newborns, the application of red [2] and UV light in dermatology (physical level), and the use of bright white light to treat seasonal affective disorders [3] (emotional or mental level). It is known that blue light is strongly absorbed by the skin, suppresses melatonin production and is generally associated with coldness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colored Light and Brain and Muscle Oxygenation

Weinzirl

Wolf

Nelle

et al. 2011

Oxygen Transport to Tissue XXXIII

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Colored light is applied in medicine in the treatment of various diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate potential effects of exposure to blue and red light on brain and muscle blood volume ([tHb]) and tissue oxygenation (StO2) measured by noninvasive near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS). Ten healthy volunteers were included in a randomized crossover study. Blue light exposure leads to decreased oxygen consumption in the brain and the skeletal muscle. I ntr oductionLight of different colors (CL) is applied for various medical conditions to improve the physical, emotional or mental state of patients. Examples are the use of blue light in the treatment of the neonatal jaundice [1], a phenomenon due to the immature liver function of newborns, the application of red [2] and UV light in dermatology (physical level), and the use of bright white light to treat seasonal affective disorders [3] (emotional or mental level). It is known that blue light is strongly absorbed by the skin, suppresses melatonin production and is generally associated with coldness. In contrast, red light penetrates tissue relatively deeply and is associated with warmth. However, little is known about the effects of CL on hemodynamics and tissue oxygenation.We therefore investigated potential effects of blue and red light, being the two main colors used in medical treatments, on blood volume and tissue oxygenation in the brain and skeletal leg muscle using near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS). M ater ials and methodsTen healthy volunteers (5 male, 5 female; mean age 27, range 23-44 years) were measured during blue and red light exposure. Light was generated using thermal white light sources (60W, OSRAM Inc., Germany) and color filters (Lee Inc., Germany). During exposure phases the CL was projected onto a white wall. The subjects were seated in a comfortable chair facing the wall. Subjects were asked to keep their eyes open throughout the entire measurement. Otherwise the room was completely dark and instruments were shielded in order to avoid ambient light.All subjects were measured twice on different days, exposed to blue or red light in a randomized crossover protocol. The protocol consisted of 8 min baseline (darkness), 10 min CL (blue or red) exposure, followed by 16 min recovery (darkness). Blood volume, i.e. total hemoglobin concentration ([tHb] in µM) and tissue oxygen saturation (StO 2 in %) were measured with a Hamamatsu NIRO 300 instrument. One sensor was attached to the forehead and the other to the lateral calf muscle. Using a paired t-test the last 5 min of the baseline were compared to the first and last 5 min of the CL exposure, and to 3 periods of 5 min of the recovery. Blue and red exposures were compared by a linear mixed effects (LME) model (R statistical software).

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“…In a systematic review and metaanalysis [6] BLT was associated with a small-to-moderate effect in reducing depressive symptoms as compared with placebo and control treatment. BLT is the recommended first-line treatment of the majority of cases of SAD, with improvements in symptoms observed with as little as 20 min of light exposure and a systematic review found BLT to be an excellent candidate for inclusion in the therapeutic inventory available for the treatment of nonseasonal depression [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light and smell stimulus protocol reduced negative frontal EEG asymmetry and improved mood

et al. 2017

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Light and smell have both been shown to induce beneficial changes to human psychophysiology. Bright light therapy has been shown to have a positive impact on anxiety and depression and smell has also been shown to have positive effects on mood, stress, anxiety and depression. We developed a method for the delivery of integrated light and smell stimulation to try to optimise positive psychophysiological benefit. We tested its effectiveness on a physiological measure, EEG frontal alpha asymmetry (FA) and a psychological paradigm, the POMS test, both of which have been used as a measure of emotional state and mood. Light, pleasant smell, combined light+smell and a no stimulus control were delivered for 90s while the frontal alpha asymmetry (FA) was monitored. Smell and light+smell caused significant reductions in negative FA during stimulation. Exposure to a longer 15 min nonadaptive light+smell stimulus protocol reduced negative FA and decreased negative affect (POMS). The effects were greater in the negative FA group. Both the physiological (EEG) and psychometric (POMS) data indicate that integrated light and smell stimulation can reduce negative affect and reduce a marker for anxiety/ depression. This light+smell sensory stimulation protocol could offer a safe treatment for depression/anxiety.

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Efficacy of light therapy in nonseasonal depression: A systematic review

Cited by 207 publications

References 86 publications

Chronobiology, excessive daytime sleepiness and depression: Is there a link?

Chronobiology, excessive daytime sleepiness and depression: Is there a link?

Colored Light and Brain and Muscle Oxygenation

Light and smell stimulus protocol reduced negative frontal EEG asymmetry and improved mood

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