A pilot study of bright light therapy in schizophrenia.

Negative symptoms and episodes of major depressive disorder in patients with schizophrenia are common and there is an overlap in symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no effective primary treatment for negative symptoms yet. Depressive disorder in patients with schizophrenia is associated with a decreased quality of life and an increased risk of psychotic relapses. Previous research has shown that Bright Light Therapy (BLT) has a positive impact on negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility and the effect of Bright Light Therapy in a severely ill population of patients who were admitted to a closed ward. This pilot study was a single center, open label add-on trial with two control groups and included 20 patients. RESULTS: Neither negative nor positive symptoms were affected. However, there was a trend towards increase on the general psychopathology scale of the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale in the BLT group. BLT did not change daily mood ratings. One participant from the BLT group was withdrawn from the study due to a manic state possibly triggered by BLT. Patients participating in our study did not benefit from BLT. It was an additional burden on the participants and worsened general psychopathology at a follow-up. Based on this study, we did not find any beneficial effect of BLT for patients with schizophrenia.

Is there a difference in clinical efficacy of bright light therapy for different types of depression? A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in the possible applications of Bright Light Therapy (BLT). BLT might be a valid alternative or add-on treatment for many other psychiatric disorders beyond seasonal affective disorder. This pilot study aims to examine whether the efficacy of Bright Light Therapy (BLT) is similar for different subtypes of mood disorders. METHODS: Participants were 48 newly admitted outpatients with major depressive disorder with either melancholic features (n=20) or atypical features (n=28). Morning BLT was administered daily for 30 min at 5.000-10.000 lx on working days for up to 3 consecutive weeks. RESULTS: Participants' depressive symptoms improved significantly after BLT (p<.05, d=-.53). The effects of BLT remained stable across a 4 week follow-up. There were no significant differences in efficacy of BLT between groups (p>.05). No effect of seasonality on the improvement in depressive symptoms after BLT was found, (p=.781). LIMITATIONS: The study had a small sample size and lacked a control condition. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that BLT could be a promising treatment for depression, regardless of the melancholic or atypical character of the depressive symptoms.

Reducing symptoms in women with chronic anorexia nervosa. A pilot study on the effects of bright light therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of bright light therapy on the sleep-wake rhythm, the menstrual cycle, mood, and key eating pathology symptoms in chronic anorexia nervosa. METHODS: Five chronic anorectic women (mean duration of illness: 15.3 years) received 5 daily sessions of 30 minutes bright light therapy (10,000 LUX). Participants completed a diagnostic interview and questionnaires at pre-test, post-test and at a three month follow-up. RESULTS: At follow up there was a slight improvement on core eating pathology, a fair decrease of depressive symptoms and an clinically important improvement on global distress. CONCLUSIONS: Bright light therapy has on short term a positive effect on the physiological and psychological well being of chronic anorectic women. However, at follow-up the effects were partly lost. It is recommended to enhance the exposure period and repeat the treatment after 3 months.