Elsevier

Comprehensive Psychiatry

Volume 32, Issue 2, March–April 1991, Pages 147-152
Comprehensive Psychiatry

Usage patterns of phototherapy in seasonal affective disorder

https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-440X(91)90007-YGet rights and content

Abstract

We mailed a questionnaire to patients affected with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) to determine patterns of self-selected light use and efficacy of treatment. Data obtained from 127 patients who responded indicate that despite inconvenience and other use-limiting factors, many patients with SAD derive sustained benefit from phototherapy over months. No consistent pattern or duration of effective treatment emerged. Development of a less cumbersome means of delivering phototherapy and reimbursement by insurance companies remain concerns to patients.

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  • The influence of light administration on interpersonal behavior and affect in people with mild to moderate seasonality

    2014, Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
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    The finding that bright light may increase quarrelsomeness is supported further by a cross-over trial of bright morning light (> 2500 lx) and placebo evening light (less than 10 lx), which found that 32% of patients with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) experienced increased agitation from morning bright light treatment and not from placebo light (< 10 lx) (Parry et al., 1993). Moreover, other studies have shown that bright light is associated with elevated levels of irritability, agitation, and anxiety along with other side effects such as headache, nausea and eyestrain (Kogan and Guilford, 1998; Levitt et al., 1993; Oren et al., 1991; Terman and Terman, 2005), which are consistent with elevated quarrelsome behavior after exposure to bright light. An improvement in mood in conjunction with an increase in quarrelsomeness may at first sight seem incompatible, as most people experience negative affect when they are quarrelsome (Moskowitz and Côté, 1995).

  • Dawn simulation and bright light in the treatment of SAD: A controlled study

    2001, Biological Psychiatry
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    Many controlled studies have found bright light therapy effective in treating seasonal affective disorder SAD (Eastman et al 1998; Lam and Levitt 1999; Terman et al 1989b, 1998; Wesson and Levitt 1998). Although bright light therapy is effective, 69% of SAD patients complain of the inconvenience of finding time to sit in front of the bright light (Oren et al 1991). As many as 19% of SAD patients stop bright light treatment because of inconvenience (Schwartz et al 1996).

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