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Light treatment for nonseasonal depression: speed, efficacy, and combined treatment
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0667, USA. dkripke@ucsd.edu
Background:
Using bright light for treating major depressive disorders which are not seasonal needs reassessment.
Methods:
Clinical trials of light treatment for nonseasonal major depressive disorders were compared with selected trials of light treatment of winter depression and with antidepressant clinical drug trials.
Results:
Light treatment of nonseasonal depression produces net benefits in the range of 12-35%, often within 1 week.
Conclusions:
Light's value for nonseasonal and seasonal depression are comparable. Light appears to produce faster antidepressant benefits than psychopharmacologic treatment.
Limitations:
Direct randomizing comparisons between light and medications for nonseasonal depression are not available.
Clinical Relevance:
Bright light can be combined with standard therapies for treating nonseasonal depressions and appears synergistic.