Some people become depressed when there is less sunlight during colder parts of the year. Otherwise, they are not depressed. This condition is called Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern. Previously, it was known as Seasonal Affective Disorder.
For years we have known that sitting in front of a bright light at a certain level of brightness each day can be an effective treatment for this form of depression.
Researchers wondered if bright light therapy (BLT) would be helpful for usual, non-seasonal depression. De Almeida and colleagues reviewed 11 studies of such patients and reported the results in JAMA Psychiatry on October 2, 2024.
What they found was that BLT resulted in significantly better improvement in patients with non-seasonal depression. More of the patients using BLT went into remission (all symptoms resolved) than control patient with standard treatment without BLT.
In this study, BLT was considered to be an adjunctive treatment, which means it was not used alone but only along with medications and/or therapy.
The bottom line is that BLT can be an effective adjunctive treatment for Major Depressive Disorder, including those that do not have a seasonal pattern.
Peter M. Hartmann, MD
Family Medicine & Psychiatry
