Until now, this type of therapy only seemed to be effective against winter depression.
Light exposure therapy has long been used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that can affect some people when winter arrives and the days get shorter, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.
However, recent research suggests that spending time in front of a light box every day can also alleviate other forms of depression. The new review of the studies was conducted by researcher Artur Menegaz de Almeida, of the Federal University of Mato Grosso, and published in the journal of the American Medical Association Jama Psychiatry.
Light improves mood and brain
So far, the effectiveness of light exposure therapy has only been demonstrated against seasonal depression.
However, Artur and his team say the therapy is being studied as a possible adjuvant treatment for major depressive disorder, as exposure to light would have a positive impact on mood and cognitive functions (reasoning, memory and learning skills). .
Major or bipolar depression
The researchers analyzed data from 11 studies involving a total of 858 patients. These people were diagnosed with forms of non-seasonal major depression or bipolar depression.
Some patients have used light therapy in addition to prescribed medications. The therapy was defined as the act of sitting in front of a 10,000 lux fluorescent lamp for at least 30 minutes a day, for a period of one to six weeks.
The results were compared with those of patients who received other adjuvant treatments, such as exposure to dim red light.
Positive results
A 50% or greater reduction in depressive symptoms was considered a good response to treatment. According to the researchers, 60.4 percent of those who underwent light therapy achieved this goal, compared to 38.6 percent of those who received other adjuvant treatments.
Complete remission of depression was also significantly higher in the light therapy group compared to those who did not receive the therapy: 40.7% versus 23.5%, respectively. These positive results occurred relatively quickly: about a month.
The low cost is an advantage
The light boxes are much cheaper than many medications or psychotherapy sessions, the team noted.
“Although the costs of outpatient antidepressant treatment vary widely, exposure to external light generally does not carry costs or limitations, which reinforces the need to consolidate [a terapia de luz brilhante] as an effective adjunctive treatment for non-seasonal depressive disorders.”
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
