Bright light exposure augments cognitive behavioral therapy for panic and posttraumatic stress disorders: a pilot randomized control trial

Kawamura, Aoi; Yoshiike, Takashi; Yoshimura, Atsushi; Koizumi, Hazuki; Nagao, Kentaro; Fujii, Yusuke; Takami, Masanori; Takahashi, Masahiro; Matsuo, Masahiro; Yamada, Naoto; Kuriyama, Kenichi

doi:10.1007/s41105-019-00248-7

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…individuals who underwent exposure therapy for panic and posttraumatic stress disorder showed greater reduction in anxiety and depression scores if the therapy was accompanied by concurrent bright light (vs. dim light) exposure (55). Another study showed that bright light exposure during fear extinction learning in healthy individuals suppressed fear acquisition and enhanced fear extinction (56).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As previous studies have proposed that exposure to blue light may facilitate learning through increased norepinephrine release from the brainstem ( 9 ), using light therapy in conjunction with therapeutic approaches that enable better emotion regulation abilities, such as cognitive reappraisal, should be the focus of future research. Some evidence already suggests that such interventions may be effective, as individuals who underwent exposure therapy for panic and post-traumatic stress disorder showed greater reduction in anxiety and depression scores if the therapy was accompanied by concurrent bright light (vs. dim light) exposure ( 55 ). Another study showed that bright light exposure during fear extinction learning in healthy individuals suppressed fear acquisition and enhanced fear extinction ( 56 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure to Blue Wavelength Light Is Associated With Increases in Bidirectional Amygdala-DLPFC Connectivity at Rest

et al. 2021

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Blue wavelength light has been used successfully as a treatment method for certain mood disorders, but, the underlying mechanisms behind the mood enhancing effects of light remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of a single dose of 30 min of blue wavelength light (n = 17) vs. amber wavelength light (n = 12) exposure in a sample of healthy adults on subsequent resting-state functional and directed connectivity, and associations with changes in state affect. Individuals who received blue vs. amber wavelength light showed greater positive connectivity between the right amygdala and a region within the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In addition, using granger causality, the findings showed that individuals who received blue wavelength light displayed greater bidirectional information flow between these two regions relative to amber light. Furthermore, the strength of amygdala-DLPFC functional connectivity was associated with greater decreases in negative mood for the blue, but not the amber light condition. Blue light exposure may positively influence mood by modulating greater information flow between the amygdala and the DLPFC, which may result in greater engagement of cognitive control strategies that are needed to perceive and regulate arousal and mood.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to Blue Wavelength Light Is Associated With Increases in Bidirectional Amygdala-DLPFC Connectivity at Rest

et al. 2021

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“…In a randomized controlled trial of 69 combat veterans with PTSD, 4 weeks of morning light treatment (30 min/day) led to significantly greater improvements in PTSD symptoms and rates of treatment response relative to a control treatment [ 15 ]. Kawamura and colleagues [ 16 ] explored morning light treatment as a potential augmentation of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). They found that participants with PTSD and panic disorder who received morning light therapy and CBT had a significantly greater reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms when compared to participants who received sham light and exposure-based CBT; however, the sample size was quite small [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kawamura and colleagues [ 16 ] explored morning light treatment as a potential augmentation of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). They found that participants with PTSD and panic disorder who received morning light therapy and CBT had a significantly greater reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms when compared to participants who received sham light and exposure-based CBT; however, the sample size was quite small [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morning light treatment for traumatic stress: The role of amygdala reactivity study protocol

et al. 2022

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Background Exposure to trauma can result in various mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies exist for the treatment of these disorders, many individuals fail to receive treatment and among those who do, many remain symptomatic. Therefore, it is critical to continue developing new interventions for traumatic stress that target underlying mechanisms of pathology and offer a safe and acceptable alternative to current treatments. Morning light treatment has good potential as a novel non-invasive, low risk treatment for traumatic stress. Evidence suggests that morning light may improve traumatic stress by reducing reactivity in the amygdala, a brain region implicated in the pathophysiology of PTSD and anatomically linked to circadian photoreceptors in the eye. Methods In this study, we aim to establish a significant dose-response relationship between duration of morning light treatment and reduction in amygdala reactivity among individuals with traumatic stress symptoms (NCT# 04117347). Using a transdiagnostic approach, sixty-six individuals with a history of a DSM-5 criterion A trauma and traumatic stress symptoms will be recruited to participate in a 5-week study. Participants will be randomized across three treatment arms based on morning light treatment duration: 15-minutes, 30-minutes, or 60-minutes of light treatment per day for four weeks. To evaluate amygdala activity, participants will undergo fMRI at pre-treatment, mid-treatment, and post-treatment. Participants will also complete clinical assessments and self-report measures of PTSD, depression, and anxiety at pre-treatment, mid-treatment, and post-treatment. Discussion Morning light therapy may be an acceptable, feasible, and effective treatment for individuals suffering from traumatic stress. Identifying mechanistically relevant targets, and the doses needed to impact them, are critical steps in developing this new treatment approach for the sequelae of traumatic stress.

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A 4-week morning light treatment reduces amygdala reactivity and clinical symptoms in adults with traumatic stress

Burgess,

Rizvydeen,

Huizenga

et al. 2024

Psychiatry Research

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Bright light exposure augments cognitive behavioral therapy for panic and posttraumatic stress disorders: a pilot randomized control trial

Cited by 3 publications

References 35 publications

Exposure to Blue Wavelength Light Is Associated With Increases in Bidirectional Amygdala-DLPFC Connectivity at Rest

Exposure to Blue Wavelength Light Is Associated With Increases in Bidirectional Amygdala-DLPFC Connectivity at Rest

Morning light treatment for traumatic stress: The role of amygdala reactivity study protocol

A 4-week morning light treatment reduces amygdala reactivity and clinical symptoms in adults with traumatic stress

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