Drug-free therapy can help treat depression in just 30 minutes

A light at the end of the dark tunnel of depression?

A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year found that nearly one in five adults in the US has been diagnosed with depression.

Doctors usually prescribe antidepressants, but these drugs come with a long list of potential side effects, including alarming skin disorders and “emotional shock,” where the pills numb not just hard times, but all sensations, including joy. .

But experts are now saying a drug-free solution to depression could be as easy as flipping a switch.

It is well established that exposure to light affects human mood and cognitive function. A recent study that found patients treated with bright light therapy (BLT) reported a 40% remission rate of non-seasonal depression proves this point.

Backed by a study from the National Institutes of Health that found that patients with seasonal affective disorder who received bright light therapy for four weeks achieved symptom remission, the researchers were curious to see how the same therapy could be used to alleviate symptoms. of those who suffer from non-seasonal depressive disorder.

Published in JAMA Psychiatrythe study presented data from 858 participants who had been diagnosed with depressive disorders.

These patients were instructed to sit in front of a fluorescent light box that produced bright white light with an intensity of 10,000 lux for at least 30 minutes each day.

The research team observed that patients treated with BLT had a significantly higher remission rate (40%) than control groups treated with antidepressants alone (23%).

The team noted, “These findings suggest that bright light therapy was an effective adjunctive treatment for non-seasonal depressive disorder, and response time to initial treatment may be improved with the addition of bright light therapy.”

Researchers claim that BLT has the potential to be an accessible, cost-effective addition to, or replacement for, antidepressants, offering a bright spot of hope for those in the deep blues.

“Although the costs of outpatient treatment with antidepressants are widely variable, outdoor light exposure generally does not involve costs or restrictions, which reinforces the need to strengthen bright light therapy as an effective adjunctive treatment for non-depressive disorders. -seasonal,” they write.

Since 2005, the American Psychiatric Association has recommended BLT as a treatment option for patients with major depressive disorder.

How does exposure to light affect mood and cognition?

According to Forbes, when people are exposed to bright lights, that light enters the retina, activating neurons known as retinal ganglion cells.

These neurons transmit information between the retina and the brain and are directly responsible for mood regulation.

While this latest study further pushes the large body of evidence linking BLT to improved mental health, experts caution that home treatments and commercial light boxes may not be as effective as those used by healthcare professionals. For best results, consult with a provider to determine the appropriate light intensity and duration of exposure for you.