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Bright Lights Dim Winter Depression

New research supports light therapy as an effective treatment for severe mental depression that recurs during winter months.

 

References:

Eastman, C.I., et al. 1998. Bright light treatment of winter depression. Archives of General Psychiatry 55(October):883.

Lewy, A.J., et al. 1998. Morning vs evening light treatment of patients with winter depression. Archives of General Psychiatry 55(October):890.

Terman, M., et al. 1998. A controlled trial of timed bright light and negative air ionization for treatment of winter depression. Archives of General Psychiatry 55(October):875.

Wirz-Justice, A. 1998. Beginning to see the light. Archives of General psychiatry 55(October):861.

 

Further Readings:

Bower, B. 1992. Here comes the sun. Science News 142(July 25):62.

 

Sources:

Charmane I. Eastman
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center
Biological Rhythms Research Laboratory
1653 West Congress Parkway
Chicago, IL 60612

Alfred J. Lewy
Oregon Health Sciences University
Department of Psychiatry, L-469
Sleep and Mood Disorders Laboratory
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland, OR 97201-3098

Michael Terman
New York State Psychiatric Institute
1051 Riverside Drive
Unit 50
New York, NY 10032

Anna Wirz-Justice
Psychiatric University Clinic
Chronobiology and Sleep Laboratory
CH-4025 Basel
Switzerland

From Science News, Vol. 154, No. 17, October 24, 1998, p. 260.
Copyright Ó 1998 by Science Service.

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