A new study shows evidence that therapy involving bright lights can relieve symptoms of depression in some women with bipolar disorder. In the past, bright light therapy has been used to treat seasonal depression during winter months, but it's now showing the ability to deal with non-seasonal depressions, as well.
Dr. Dorothy Sit of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center conducted a study involving nine women in the depressive phase of bipolar disorder. The women, who were all unresponsive to other forms of treatment, were given light boxes and instructed to use them for 15, 30, and 45 minutes a day for two weeks. Four of the patients used the light boxes in the morning, while the remaining five used them at midday.
The four women using morning light developed mixed states such as feelings of depression, anxiety, racing thoughts, and other forms of mania. The five women who used the light boxes at midday had a far more stable response.
After studying the findings, Dr. Sit placed all nine women on a midday light exposure schedule. Once the treatments were personalized for the individual responses, six of the nine patients reported some benefit from the bright light therapy.
The findings suggest women with bipolar disorder are extremely sensitive to morning light exposure. As a result, Dr. Sit recommends patients who prove unresponsive to other treatments should begin bright light therapy with 15 minutes of midday light each day.
Comments (0):