Treating winter depressive episodes in bipolar disorder: an open trial of light therapy

Lotte J. E. van Hout*, Lisette E. P. Rops, Claudia J. P. Simons

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background Light therapy has been used to treat winter depression in bipolar disorder, although the dose, duration, and timing of treatment have differed. The present study is an open trial of light therapy for depressive episodes in autumn/winter using a Dutch protocol specific for patients with a bipolar disorder. Methods Data were collected for the seasons September-April 2017-2018 and September-April 2018-2019. In total, 58 patients received light therapy for a minimum of 7 days and a maximum of 21 days; there was a follow-up measurement after two weeks. Outcomes were quick inventory of depressive symptomatology (QIDS) scores and side effects. Results QIDS scores were significantly lower at the last day of therapy (B = - 6.00, p <0.001) and 2 weeks after the end of treatment (B = - 6.55, p <0.001) compared with pre-intervention. Remission (QIDS

Original languageEnglish
Article number17
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Bipolar Disorders
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2020

Keywords

  • Light therapy
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Seasonal affective disorder
  • Winter depression
  • SEASONAL AFFECTIVE-DISORDER
  • REPORT QIDS-SR
  • BRIGHT LIGHT
  • QUICK INVENTORY
  • NONSEASONAL DEPRESSION
  • SLEEP-DEPRIVATION
  • MOOD DISORDERS
  • EARLY RESPONSE
  • DOUBLE-BLIND
  • EFFICACY

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