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Adjunctive bright light in non‐seasonal major depression: results from patient‐reported symptom and well‐being scales
Author(s) -
Martiny K.,
Lunde M.,
Undén M.,
Dam H.,
Bech P.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00532.x
Subject(s) - light therapy , depression (economics) , sertraline , randomized controlled trial , population , statistical significance , psychology , antidepressant , medicine , psychiatry , circadian rhythm , anxiety , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: In this study, we tested the efficacy of bright light therapy as an adjunct to antidepressant treatment (sertraline) in patients with non‐seasonal major depression. Method: In a randomized double‐blind controlled trial, 102 patients were treated for 5 weeks with either white bright light (10.000 lx, 1 h/day) or red dim light (50 lx, 30 min/day). All patients received sertraline in a dosage of 50 mg daily. The self‐assessment scales used were the Major Depression Inventory (MDI), the Psychological General Well‐Being Scale (PGWB) and the Symptom Check List (SCL‐90R). Results: On all three questionnaires the score differences between baseline and endpoint were greatest in the bright light group. On the SCL‐90R, the difference reached statistical significance. Results and effect sizes are compared with results from Danish national population studies applying PGWB and SCL‐90R. Conclusion: The results advocate the use of bright light as an adjunct treatment of non‐seasonal depression.