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Bright light treatment for high-anxious young adults: a randomized controlled pilot study
Shawn D Youngstedt1, Christopher E Kline, Jay P Ginsberg
1Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. syoungstedt@sc.edu
Depression and Anxiety
|January 22, 2011
Summary
Bright light therapy showed no significant effect on anxiety in young adults. While some psychic symptoms slightly improved, overall evidence for its anxiolytic benefits remains limited.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Chronobiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Current anxiety treatments have limitations and side effects.
- Investigating novel therapeutic approaches for anxiety is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of bright light exposure as a treatment for anxiety in young adults.
- To explore the anxiolytic potential of bright light therapy.
Main Methods:
- An acute exposure study and a 5-week daily exposure study were conducted.
- Participants received either bright light or placebo treatment.
- Anxiety, depression, mood, sleep, and side effects were assessed using standardized scales.
Main Results:
- No significant treatment effect of bright light was observed in either the acute or the 5-week study.
- Bright light exposure showed a trend towards reducing psychic anxiety symptoms (P = .06).
Conclusions:
- This pilot study found limited evidence supporting bright light as an effective anxiolytic treatment for high-anxious young adults.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of bright light in anxiety management.
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