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Related Experiment Videos

A controlled study of light therapy for bulimia nervosa

R W Lam1, E M Goldner, L Solyom

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

The American Journal of Psychiatry
|May 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Bright white light therapy effectively improved mood and eating symptoms in patients with bulimia nervosa. This light therapy shows promise for treating bulimia nervosa, especially in those with seasonal patterns.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Bulimia nervosa (BN) can present with mood and eating symptom worsening during winter, resembling seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
  • Investigating non-seasonal pattern BN patients for light therapy effectiveness is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of bright white light therapy versus dim red light therapy for treating bulimia nervosa.
  • To compare treatment outcomes in patients with and without a seasonal pattern of BN.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, counterbalanced crossover study involving 17 female BN patients.
  • Exposure to bright white light (10,000 lux) and dim red light (500 lux) for 30 minutes daily over two 2-week periods.
  • Assessment of mood, eating behaviors (binge/purge diaries, Eating Attitudes Test), and treatment expectations.

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Main Results:

  • Bright white light therapy significantly outperformed dim red light therapy across all mood and eating outcome measures.
  • Patients with seasonal bulimia exhibited greater improvement with bright white light compared to those with non-seasonal bulimia.
  • No significant order effects or differential effects were observed for patients on antidepressant medication.

Conclusions:

  • Bright white light therapy offers a potentially effective short-term treatment for mood and eating disturbances in bulimia nervosa.
  • The therapeutic benefits of light therapy may be more pronounced in individuals with a seasonal pattern of bulimia nervosa.