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Efficacy and safety of bright light therapy for manic and depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Takeshima Masahiro,
Utsumi Tomohiro,
Aoki Yumi,
Wang Zhe,
Suzuki Masahiro,
Okajima Isa,
Watanabe Norio,
Watanabe Koichiro,
Takaesu Yoshikazu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12976
Subject(s) - meta analysis , randomized controlled trial , bipolar disorder , mood , confidence interval , strictly standardized mean difference , depression (economics) , relative risk , medicine , placebo , major depressive disorder , adverse effect , psychiatry , psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Aim This systematic review and meta‐analysis evaluated whether bright light therapy (BLT) is an effective and safe treatment for manic/depressive symptoms and a preventive measure for recurrent mood episodes in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods A literature search of major electronic databases was conducted in June 2019, including all published articles up to that date. Two researchers independently selected relevant publications, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality according to the Cochrane criteria. Results Six randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluated the efficacy of BLT for bipolar depression. A meta‐analysis found no significant differences between BLT and placebo for the following outcomes: (i) rates of remission from depressive episodes (risk ratio [RR]: 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43 to 7.64, P = 0.42); (ii) depressive symptom scores (standardized mean difference: −0.25, 95%CI: −0.74 to 0.23, P = 0.30); and (iii) rates of manic switching (RR: 1.00, 95%CI: 0.28 to 3.59, P = 0.26). The sensitivity analysis for studies with low overall indirectness did show a significant antidepressant effect for BLT (RR: 3.09, 95%CI: 1.62 to 5.90, P = 0.006). No RCT investigated the effect of BLT in preventing the recurrence of mood episodes in the euthymic state or in improving manic symptoms in the manic state. No severe adverse events were reported. Conclusion While a meta‐analysis was unable to demonstrate the efficacy of BLT for bipolar depression, a sensitivity analysis did show a significant effect. Further well‐designed studies are needed to clarify the effectiveness of BLT, not only for the depressive state but also for other states, in the treatment of bipolar disorder.