Evidence
Click on the links below to learn more about light therapy approaches used to treat depression.
Now that you have learned about light therapy, move on to the next section to read a summary of the material presented in this unit.
Based on a number of high quality studies, light therapy now has level A evidence for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) (Lurie, Terman).
For example:
Ninety six patients with SAD randomized to either fluoxetine or full spectrum light therapy had equal response (67%) and remission rates (50%) (Lam).
In a small study of blue/green wavelength light therapy, patients randomized to light therapy vs. the control group showed significantly greater responses (Desan).
In a recent systematic review, bright light therapy and dawn simulators both shown to be effective in the treatment of SAD were (Golden).
Another recent systematic review of the influence of light therapy on non-seasonal depression suggests that it may also offer effective adjunctive treatment for this condition, although more studies are needed to prove efficacy (Tuunainen).