Effects of green or white light for treatment of seasonal depression.
Abstract
Twelve subjects with winter depression were treated with equal quanta of green or white light in a randomized crossover study. Each treatment condition consisted of 2 hours of exposure each morning for 1 week, with at least 1 interventing week without treatment. Ratings made without knowledge of treatment condition were done before and after each condition. Both treatments significantly reduced depression ratings. White light was significantly more effective than green light in reducing endogenous symptoms, but not the "atypical" symptoms that are common features of winter depression. Furthermore, sequence of treatment conditions influenced antidepressant responses. Broad-band white light may be optimal for maximizing therapeutic response.
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Cites
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Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder with Blue Narrow-Band Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
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Self-citationDose‐response relationship of phototherapy for seasonal affective disorder: a meta‐analysis
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Impact of UVA exposure on psychological parameters and circulating serotonin and melatonin
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Are short (blue) wavelengths necessary for light treatment of seasonal affective disorder?
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- Authors
- Stewart, K. T., Gaddy, J. R., Byrne, B., Miller, S., & Brainard, G. C.
- Affiliations
- Rush University Medical Center (US)
- Thomas Jefferson University (US)
- United States Food and Drug Administration (US)
- Corresponding author
- Brainard, George C.
- ORCID
- Brainard, George C.
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1991-09
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 261-270
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2052987399
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (1r03mh044890-01a1)
- National Institute of Mental Health (R03-MH-44890-01A1)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Light effects on plants
- Keywords
- seasonal affective disorder, phototherapy, green light, white light, light color, antidepressant response
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analysis of Variance, Color, Female, Humans, Light, Male, Phototherapy, Time Factors, Seasonal Affective Disorder
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