Archive for the ‘Light Therapy’ Category
Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Bright light therapy can ease bipolar depression in some patients, according to a study published in the journal Bipolar Disorders. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic studied nine women with bipolar disorder to examine the effects of light therapy in the morning or at midday on mood symptoms.
“There are limited effective treatments for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder,” said Dorothy Sit, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and the study’s first author. “While there are treatments that are effective for mania, the major problem is the depression, which can linger so long that it never really goes away.”
In this study, women with bipolar depression were given light boxes and instructed on how to use them at home. The women used the light boxes daily for two-week stretches of 15, 30 and 45 minutes. Some patients responded extremely well to the light therapy, and their symptoms of depression disappeared. The responders to light therapy stayed on the light therapy for an additional three or four months. Four patients received morning light, and five used their light boxes at midday. Participants also continued to take their prescribed medications throughout the study period.
“Three of the women who received morning light initially developed what we call a mixed state, with symptoms of depression and mania that occur all at once — racing thoughts, irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety and low mood,” said Dr. Sit. “But when another group began with midday light therapy, we found a much more stable response.”
Of the nine women treated, six achieved some degree of response, with several reaching full recovery from depressive symptoms. While most attained their best recovery with midday light, a few responded more fully to a final adjustment to morning light. “People with bipolar disorder are exquisitely sensitive to morning light, so this profound effect of morning treatment leading to mixed states is very informative and forces us to ask more questions,” said Dr. Sit. “Did we introduce light too early and disrupt circadian rhythms and sleep patterns?”
People with bipolar disorder are known to be sensitive to changes in outdoor ambient light and to seasonal changes. Researchers are asking whether the risk of suicide in patients with bipolar disorder could be linked to changes in light exposure.
“In our study, 44 percent of patients were full responders, and 22 percent were partial responders,” Dr. Sit and her colleagues write. “Light therapy, therefore, is an attractive and possibly effective augmentation strategy to improve the likelihood of full-treatment response.”
Optimal response was observed with midday light therapy for 45 or 60 minutes daily, noted Dr. Sit.
Other study authors are Katherine L. Wisner, M.D., Barbara H. Hanusa, Ph.D., and Stacy D. Stull, M.S., all of the Women’s Behavioral HealthCARE program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; and Michael Terman, Ph.D., Columbia University. Article: doi/full/10.1111/j.1399-5618.2007.00451.x
Researchers report funding from the Stanley Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Pfizer Inc., GlaxoSmithKline and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Tags: Bipolar Disorder, Bright light therapy, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD lights
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Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Pregnancy is a joyous occasion. Pregnancy, though, does not protect women from experiencing mild to severe depression. Medication and/or therapy may be recommended.
Treating depression is always important and it can be successfully treated during and after pregnancy. Some antidepressant/anti anxiety medications can be used safely throughout pregnancy and breast feeding.
A drug free way of treating depression during pregnancy is by using a light therapy box. Bright light therapy is as effective as the antidepressants in depression cure in pregnant women. Bright light therapy has yielded favorable results for curing depression in pregnancy. It also is quite safe as it does not have any side effects. It requires a patient to sit in front of a box for about 30 minutes a day, depending on the patient.
Here are some findings from research on pregnancy and depression:
- Babies born to moms with depression have an increased risk for irritability, less activity and attentiveness and fewer facial expressions.
- There are possible fetal abnormalities when mothers take antidepressants in the first trimester. But there’s not a particular pattern associated with a specific medication or class of medications.
Some specific treatment recommendations include:
- Talk to your provider early if you are planning to conceive. You can talk about the best options for you as an individual.
- Encourage the provider who will deliver your baby and your mental health provider to consult with each other on the best options for you. They will help you understand the risks and benefits of medication versus therapy, etc.
- If you are taking an antidepressant for depression, don’t discontinue or change your dose of medication on your own. This could be dangerous and your symptoms could worsen.
- Use bright light therapy as a drug free option to treat your depression during pregnancy.
- If you have severe depression and are pregnant, you should remain on medication.
Untreated depression during pregnancy has been proven to lead to higher rates of:
- Lower birth weights
- Pre-term labor (depression doubles the risk)
- Increased use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate
Please have a candid discussion with both your psychiatrist and OB-GYN regarding the benefits, risks and side effects of all medications. If you have been diagnosed with depression and are considering pregnancy, meet with your health providers before you get pregnant. This will provide peace of mind and help to make sure that you and your baby are both as healthy as possible.
Tags: Bright light therapy, Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, Pregnancy, SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Thousands of people die every year from this degenerating disease. Scientists are still no closer to finding a cure, even though research is being carried out daily.
The light therapy is mainly used in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. It is well known for anybody who has been involved with a Alzheimer’s patient that they are at their best early in the mornings. This is because as the disease progresses it affects the part of the brain that controls the circadian rhythms.What the circadian rhythm does is it controls our body clock and the sleep-wake cycle in our brain.
It is common that an Alzheimer’s patient will start to become very agitated in the late afternoon and evening. This is because there eyes become affected, and as the daylight starts to disappear they find it harder to focus on things. They even find it hard to settle during the night and often wandering around the house. This is called sundowning.
The Alzheimer’s light is a helmet which has infrared lights attached to it and it fits onto the head. Scientist first carried out research with this helmet on mice, results proved that it showed great improvement in their learning ability. The mice also showed signs or less agitation at night time.
The trial was for twelve weeks and was tested on men and women between 60 and 70. Half of the participants where given one hour of exposure to bright natural light each morning. The rest where exposed to low light each day. Tests proved that the participants who where given the bright natural light, showed signs of not being as agitated during the day and settling in bed on a night a lot longer than normal.
Tests also proved that the Alzheimer’s light treatment has slowed down the deterioration of the nerve cells in the brain. Which means that an Alzheimer’s patient has been able to live a lot longer in their own home.
Although this is not a cure for alzheimer’s disease, if this treatment can give an Alzheimer’s patient a better way of light then that has got to be a positive thing. Research is still being carried out on the light therapy at the moment.
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Clinical Trials, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder
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Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is very frequently associated with poor overnight sleep and daytime sleepiness. We have a regular internal sleep/wake cycle that keeps us awake and keeps our sleep time on track. Being exposed to bright light therapy has been shown to improve the sleep/wake cycle in people with sleep problems as well as in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
This study is being done to look at the effects that exposure to a bright light has on daytime sleepiness and night-time sleep in PD. About 30 people with Parkinson’s disease and sleep problems will be in this study. Bright light therapy involves sitting in front of a light box for 1 to 1. 5 hours several times a day for a few weeks.
Three clinic visits (approximately 1 hour each) and two 24-hour stays (including sleep studies) are involved in this study. There are also three 14-day periods in between the clinic visits where activity levels will be measured using an actiwatch, a small, watch-like device that measures movement throughout the day and night, and participants will complete daily sleep logs at home. During one of the 14-day periods, participants will use the light box as instructed at home.
Below is a link to the Northwestern University – Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center for Clinical Trial Participation:
http://www.parkinsons.northwestern.edu/clinical_trials.html
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Bright light therapy, Clinical Trials, Elderly, Light box, Light Therapy, Parkinson's Disease, SAD lights
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Friday, June 25th, 2010
There is a new clinical trial starting at University College London (UCL) that will study whether light therapy could benefit people with epilepsy.
UCL Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery will be running the study which will involve 100 people who suffer a type of seizure called a complex partial seizure.
In this trial, the UCL researchers aim to find out whether light therapy reduces the number of seizures people experience. A study suggested that people suffered from less seizures on sunny days compared to cloudy days.
Full article can be read at:
http://www.ihe-online.com/index.php?id=2565&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=907&cHash=65536
Tags: Epilepsy, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD light, SAD lights, Severe Depression
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Friday, June 4th, 2010
What is LUX anyway?
lux Pronunciation: (luks), —n.,
—pl. luces Pronunciation: (lOO’sEz).
A unit of illumination, equivalent to 0.0929 foot-candle and equal to the illumination produced by luminous flux of one lumen falling perpendicularly on a surface one meter square. Symbol: LX. Also called meter-candle.
Basically, it’s a unit of light measurement. Higher the number, brighter the light source.
What is the importance of the 10,000 lux and distance rating?
The 10,000 lux measurement is important in light therapy to judge the effectiveness of any particular light box or lamp. Since the 1970’s, studies have shown that light therapy is effective when a person is within a 10,000 lux brightness range of light for twenty to thirty minutes. Our light box has a 10,000 lux range at 24 inches. This is important to consider when shopping around. Many lamps boast of 10,000 lux light, but fail to mention at what distance this is from the light unit. For example, a light that has a 10,000 lux range of twelve inches means that either you would need to sit within a foot from the light for ½ hour, or at a more comfortable two feet you would need to spend one hour to get the same therapeutic effect. You will need to consider what works best for your lifestyle when making your decision.
Light therapy boxes built with some UL-listed parts are not the same as those in which the whole light box has been UL-tested and listed. If a company says it uses UL approved parts, this means the whole light box was not tested. For safety sake, verify this before you buy. It’s also against the law to sell electrical appliances that are not UL-listed.
At Alaska Northern Lights, we base our light therapy and light box information on a variety of accepted scientific studies and not on the opinions of a few individuals. Research has shown that in light therapy, the light’s intensity is the key, not UV rays. UV rays are considered a liability and a health problem with the eyes and skin. Our light box produces no UV-A or UV-C rays and no measurable amount of UV-B. We block any remaining UV rays with our UV diffuser screen.
Tags: Light box, Light Therapy, LUX, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression, Summer SAD
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Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
Bright light therapy consists of sitting close to the light box with eyes open so the light shines on the user’s face. Looking directly at the light is not necessary. One is free to read, write or eat a meal while staying oriented towards the light.
Sitting within the 10,000 lux range, or 24 inches for a 30-minute session soon after awakening is enough time, and equals sitting in the 2,500 lux range or at about 40 inches for a two hour session. Intensity levels are changed by moving towards or away from the light. Treatment can last between 15 minutes to three hours. Once adjusted to light therapy, one gets a fairly good intuitive feel for adjusting the session length to get the desired results.
A positive response usually begins two to four days after beginning light therapy, and it could take up to several weeks to get the full beneficial effect. If patients do not respond to treatment, they may need a longer duration of morning light, or a trial of evening light. Some people can skip treatments for one to three days, occasionally longer, without ill effects, but most have symptoms returning quickly when treatment is interrupted.
Tags: Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Summer SAD
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Workers who are required to work during normal sleeping hours are at high risk for shift-work disorder. This may result in insomnia, excessive sleepiness, impaired work performance and safety hazards. This category includes those who work late-night shifts, early-morning shifts and rotating shifts.
One study of 2,570 workers found that 10 % of those working rotating or night schedules met criteria for shift-work sleep disorder. The study showed that health concerns may be aggravated by shift work. Workers identified as having shift-work disorder had higher rates of ulcers, sleepiness-related accidents, absenteeism, depression, and missed family and social activities. It is also known that those with shift work have higher rates of cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal disorders.
To adjust your circadian rhythm and sleep cycle for optimal performance, energy and brain function/alertness, use a bright light box within 30-60 minutes of waking. This will adjust your sleep/wake clock naturally, and tells your brain that the sun is rising and it is time to wake up.
- Try taking one capsule of calcium one to two hours before going to sleep. Adequate calcium levels in the blood are required for good sleep.
- Inositol (Member of the B vitamin family that acts as a sedative). 1,000 mg upon waking, 1,000 mg an hour before going to sleep.
- Kava. 250 mg before going to sleep. Powerful relaxing effects.
For more information on sleep disorders, jet lag, children with ADD, tips for sleeping better and related articles, please visit the website below:
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/stevepocetamd/
Tags: Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, Night Shift, SAD light, SAD lights, Shift workers
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Friday, May 28th, 2010
There have been studies on the use of bright light therapy to improve sleep disturbances linked by combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results are pointing to light therapy significantly improving sleep disturbances related to PTSD as well as moderate improvement in symptoms and depression associated with PTSD.
A lot of people who suffer from depression have problems with keeping a regular sleep cycle. Those that use a light therapy box to regulate their sleep patterns, usually notice their symptoms for depression decrease. Light therapy is an easy treatment that can be self-administered, and has few side effects.
There has been an ongoing study at the University of South Carolina that involves 16 soldiers who had been serving over seas. The full article can be read from the following link:
http://www.oandpbusinessnews.com/view.aspx?rid=64898
Tags: Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, LUX, PTSD, SAD light, Severe Depression
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Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Circadian rhythm disorders are disruptions in a person’s circadian rhythm – a name given to the “internal body clock” that regulates the 24-hour cycle of biological processes in animals and plants.
The circadian rhythm is usually disturbed by pregnancy, time zone changes, medications, shift work, depression, or changes in your routine.
Depressives are notorious for being circadian out of sync – feeling sleepy or alert, warm or cold, hungry or without appetite, at the wrong times of day or night – as if they were jet lagged several hours.
Research suggests that for many depressives, the timing of bright light therapy is key, as if it were pushing or pulling their circadian clocks into sync. Indeed, for other conditions, tweaking the circadian clock is the express purpose of light therapy.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is also a symptom of a disrupted circadian rhythm. Doctors fear that if a person’s biological clock is disrupted for too long, it could lead to cardiovascular disease, and a depreciation of melatonin could increase a patient’s risk of cancer.
Tags: Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression
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