A light at the end of the dark tunnel of depression?
A report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year revealed that nearly one in five adults in the US have been diagnosed with depression.
Doctors commonly prescribe antidepressants, but these meds come with a hefty list of possible side effects, including alarming skin disorders and “emotional blunting,” wherein the pills numb not just the hard times but all sensations including joy.
But experts are now saying that a drug-free solution to depression could be as easy as flipping a switch.
It is well established that light exposure affects human mood and cognitive function. A recent study that found that patients treated with bright light therapy (BLT) reported a 40% remission rate of non-seasonal depression proves this point.
Bolstered by a study from the National Institute of Health that revealed that patients with seasonal affective disorder who received bright light therapy over four weeks reached symptom remission, researchers were curious to see how the same therapy could be used to alleviate the symptoms of those suffering from non-seasonal depressive disorder.
Published in JAMA Psychiatry, the study featured data from 858 participants who were diagnosed with depressive disorders.
These patients were instructed to sit in front of a fluorescent light box that produced bright white light at an intensity of 10,000 lux for at least 30 minutes every day.
The research team observed that patients treated with BLT had a significantly higher remission rate (40%) than the control groups treated solely with antidepressants (23%).
The team noted, “These findings suggest that bright light therapy was an effective adjunctive treatment for non-seasonal depressive disorders, and the response time to the initial treatment may be improved with the addition of bright light therapy.”
Researchers maintain that BLT has the potential to be an accessible, cost-effective supplement to, or replacement for, antidepressants, offering a bright spot of hope for those with deep blues.
“Even though outpatient treatment costs with antidepressants are widely variable, exposure to external light generally involves no costs or limitations, which reinforces the need to firm bright light therapy as an efficient adjunctive treatment for non-seasonal depressive disorders,” they wrote.
Since 2005, the American Psychiatric Association has recommended BLT as a treatment option for patients with major depressive disorder.
How does light exposure influence mood and cognition?
According to Forbes, when humans are exposed to bright lights, that light enters the retina, activating neurons known as retinal ganglion cells.
These neurons transmit information between the retina and brain and are directly responsible for mood regulation.
While this latest study furthers the large pool of evidence linking BLT to improved mental health, experts warn that at-home treatments and commercial light boxes may not be as effective as those employed by healthcare professionals. For best results, consult a provider to determine the appropriate light intensity and duration of exposure for you.
