Effects of light treatment upon mood and melatonin in patients with seasonal affective disorder

Ten patients with seasonal affective disorder received the following treatments for 5 days each: (a) artificial daylight (2500 lux) from 20.00 to 23.00 and from 07.00 to 10.00 hours; (b) red light (300 lux) from 20.00 to 23.00 and from 07.00 to 10.00 hours; (c) artificial daylight (2500 lux) from 22...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological medicine 1989-08, Vol.19 (3), p.585-590
Main Authors: Winton, F., Corn, T., Huson, L. W., Franey, C., Arendt, J., Checkley, S. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Depressive Disorder - blood
Depressive Disorder - psychology
Depressive Disorder - therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Melatonin - blood
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Original Articles
Phototherapy - methods
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Seasons
Treatments
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Summary:Ten patients with seasonal affective disorder received the following treatments for 5 days each: (a) artificial daylight (2500 lux) from 20.00 to 23.00 and from 07.00 to 10.00 hours; (b) red light (300 lux) from 20.00 to 23.00 and from 07.00 to 10.00 hours; (c) artificial daylight (2500 lux) from 22.00 to 23.00 and from 07.00 to 08.00 hours. The antidepressant effect of treatment (a) was superior to that of treatment (b), suggesting that the effect of light treatment in winter depression is more than that of a placebo. The antidepressant effect of treatment (a) was superior to that of treatment (c), although these two treatments equally suppressed plasma melatonin concentrations. Consequently, in these patients there is a dissociation between the effect of light treatment on melatonin and the reduction of depression ratings.
ISSN:0033-2917
1469-8978
DOI:10.1017/S0033291700024181