The Current State of Research in Bright Light Therapy

Bassa, Daniela; Canazei, Markus; Hinterhuber, Hartmann; Weiss, Elisabeth M.

doi:10.1007/s40211-013-0067-5

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 50 publications

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“…Light therapy has become a treatment option for various neurological and psychiatric disorders such as sleep disorders, seasonal/non-seasonal affective disorders, and dementia [for reviews see [1][2][3], because of its short response latency, and the existence of solely minor side effects (usually at the beginning of the treatment, which vanish within days). Light therapy is typically administered daily in the early morning for at least several weeks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychophysiological Effects of a Single, Short, and Moderately Bright Room Light Exposure on Mildly Depressed Geriatric Inpatients: A Pilot Study

Canazei

Pohl²,

Bauernhofer³

et al. 2017

Gerontology

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Background: Light interventions typically exert their mood-related effects during morning bright light exposures over several weeks. Evidence about immediate ambient room light effects on depressed individuals is still sparse. Objective: The present study aimed at examining the acute effects of a single moderately bright room light exposure on mood, and behavioural and cardiac stress reactions of mildly depressed geriatric inpatients during a short cognitive stimulation and while resting. Methods: Twenty-one inpatients were tested in a balanced cross-over design on 2 consecutive days under either conventional room light (standard light) or artificial sunlight conditions for 30 min. Room illumination was implemented with an artificial skylight, which perfectly imitated solar indoor illumination (e.g., cloudless sky and bright artificial sun). Light-induced changes of mood, heart rate, and heart rate variability were recorded while performing a perseveration test (acted as cognitive stimulation) twice. Additionally, light-related behaviour was observed during a resting period between the cognitive tests and various subjective ratings were obtained. Results: Compared to standard light, exposure to artificial sunlight had a subjective calming effect over time (p = 0.029) as well as decreased heart rate and increased vagal tone (root mean squared of successive inter-beat intervals), both under cognitive workload and in resting conditions. Effect sizes of reported cardiac reactions were large. Cognitive variables were not influenced by light. Additionally, under the higher corneal illuminance of the artificial sunlight, patients perceived stronger glare (p = 0.030) and kept their eyes closed for longer times (p = 0.033) during the resting period. However, patients did not avoid bright light exposure while resting but voluntarily stayed within the area directly lit by the artificial sun nearly all the time (97%). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this study for the first time demonstrated immediate psychophysiological effects of a single, short room light exposure in mildly depressed geriatric inpatients during a short cognitive stimulation and while resting. The findings complement reported evidence on immediate alerting and mood-related effects of bright light exposures.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychophysiological Effects of a Single, Short, and Moderately Bright Room Light Exposure on Mildly Depressed Geriatric Inpatients: A Pilot Study

Canazei

Pohl²,

Bauernhofer³

et al. 2017

Gerontology

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Effects of dynamic bedroom lighting on measures of sleep and circadian rest-activity rhythm in inpatients with major depressive disorder

Canazei

Weninger

Pohl

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Bright light therapy is an effective treatment option for seasonal and non-seasonal affective disorders. However up to now, no study has investigated effects of dynamic bedroom lighting in hospitalized patients with major depression. A bedroom lighting system, which automatically delivered artificial dawn and dusk and blue-depleted nighttime lighting (DD-N lighting) was installed in a psychiatric ward. Patients with moderate to severe depression were randomly assigned to stay in bedrooms with the new lighting or standard lighting system. Patients wore wrist actimeters during the first two treatment weeks. Additionally, hospitalization duration and daily psychotropic medication were retrieved from patients’ medical charts. Data from thirty patients, recorded over a period of two weeks, were analyzed. Patients under DD-N lighting generally woke up earlier (+ 20 min), slept longer (week 1: + 11 min; week 2: + 27 min) and showed higher sleep efficiency (+ 2.4%) and shorter periods of nighttime awakenings (− 15 min). In the second treatment week, patients started sleep and the most active 10-h period earlier (− 33 min and − 64 min, respectively). This pilot study gives first evidence that depressed patients’ sleep and circadian rest/activity system may benefit from bedroom lighting when starting inpatient treatment.

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The Current State of Research in Bright Light Therapy

Cited by 2 publications

References 50 publications

Psychophysiological Effects of a Single, Short, and Moderately Bright Room Light Exposure on Mildly Depressed Geriatric Inpatients: A Pilot Study

Psychophysiological Effects of a Single, Short, and Moderately Bright Room Light Exposure on Mildly Depressed Geriatric Inpatients: A Pilot Study

Effects of dynamic bedroom lighting on measures of sleep and circadian rest-activity rhythm in inpatients with major depressive disorder

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