Type of Submission
Poster
Keywords
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), light therapy, usual care
Proposal
Introduction:
Bright light therapy (BLT) has commonly been used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). However, little is known about how bright light therapy compares to usual care in adults with SAD. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of bright light therapy compared to usual care for depression symptoms in the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, Unbound Medicine, Cedarville University OneSearch, and ScienceDirect databases to identify articles meeting predefined selection criteria. We analyzed the articles using Johns Hopkins EBP Tools and synthesized data according to the efficacy of BLT compared to usual care and other mainstream interventions for the relief of SAD symptoms.
Results:
A total of 10 studies met our predestined inclusion criteria. Analysis of the use and effectiveness of BLT in the treatment of SAD compared to placebo and other treatment modalities showed bright light therapy significantly more effective than placebo and usual care interventions in alleviating depressive symptoms of SAD. However, bright light therapy in conjunction with other interventions, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy, demonstrated the highest reduction and prevention in SAD symptoms.
Conclusion:
Our literature review indicates that bright light therapy is an effective first-line treatment for alleviating symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Findings consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of BLT compared to placebo and usual care, yet contradict that SAD is best treated when BLT is combined with CBT and/or pharmacotherapy. While BLT is an effective intervention for Seasonal Affective Disorder that should be incorporated into short-term practice, further research is needed to determine the long-term efficacy and implementation of BLT as a stand-alone or combined treatment for SAD.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Publication Date
2024
The Effectiveness of Light Therapy in Comparison to Usual Care in the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Integrative Review
Introduction:
Bright light therapy (BLT) has commonly been used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). However, little is known about how bright light therapy compares to usual care in adults with SAD. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of bright light therapy compared to usual care for depression symptoms in the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, Unbound Medicine, Cedarville University OneSearch, and ScienceDirect databases to identify articles meeting predefined selection criteria. We analyzed the articles using Johns Hopkins EBP Tools and synthesized data according to the efficacy of BLT compared to usual care and other mainstream interventions for the relief of SAD symptoms.
Results:
A total of 10 studies met our predestined inclusion criteria. Analysis of the use and effectiveness of BLT in the treatment of SAD compared to placebo and other treatment modalities showed bright light therapy significantly more effective than placebo and usual care interventions in alleviating depressive symptoms of SAD. However, bright light therapy in conjunction with other interventions, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy, demonstrated the highest reduction and prevention in SAD symptoms.
Conclusion:
Our literature review indicates that bright light therapy is an effective first-line treatment for alleviating symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Findings consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of BLT compared to placebo and usual care, yet contradict that SAD is best treated when BLT is combined with CBT and/or pharmacotherapy. While BLT is an effective intervention for Seasonal Affective Disorder that should be incorporated into short-term practice, further research is needed to determine the long-term efficacy and implementation of BLT as a stand-alone or combined treatment for SAD.
