NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Treatment with a light-emitting diode (LED) device is effective for seasonal affective disorder, according to a report in an August 7th online release from BMC Psychiatry.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a common disorder characterized by depressive symptoms during certain seasons, usually winter. The condition is associated with shorter days and less light and, therefore, is often treated with exposure to special light sources.
In the present study, Dr. Paul H. Desan from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut and colleagues evaluated the Litebook LED device (The Litebook Company Ltd., Alberta, Canada), which is smaller than the bulky light boxes typically used to treat SAD.
"A more convenient form of light therapy might lead to increased use of light for SAD," they suggest.
Desan's team tested the Litebook in 23 patients with SAD. Remission was achieved in over half of the patients and side effects were uncommon.
"The results of this pilot study suggest that 30 minutes of daily light exposure to the Litebook LED device is (effective) in the treatment of SAD," the researchers conclude.
SOURCE: BMC Psychiatry, August 7th online, 2007.
