Blue-light therapy for seasonal and non-seasonal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Open accessAbstract
Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of blue-light therapy in seasonal and non-seasonal major depressive disorder (MDD), by comparison to active and inactive control conditions. Methods: We searched Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, PsycInfo, and Clinicaltrials.gov through January 17, 2022, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using search terms for blue/blue-enhanced, light therapy, and depression/seasonal affective disorder. Two independent reviewers extracted data. The primary outcome was the difference in endpoint scores on the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SIGH-SAD) or the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale with Atypical Depression Supplement (SIGH-ADS) between blue light and comparison conditions. Secondary outcomes were response (≥ 50% improvement from baseline to endpoint on a depression scale) and remission rates (endpoint score in the remission range). Results: Of 582 articles retrieved, we included nine RCTs ( n = 347 participants) assessing blue-light therapy. Seven studies had participants with seasonal MDD and two studies included participants with non-seasonal MDD. Four studies compared blue light to an inactive light condition (efficacy studies), and five studies compared it to an active condition (comparison studies). For the primary outcome, a meta-analysis with random-effects models found no evidence for the efficacy of blue-light conditions compared to inactive conditions (mean difference [MD] = 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.28 to 6.14, P = 0.20); however, blue-light also showed no differences compared to active conditions (MD = −0.11; 95% CI, −2.38 to 2.16, P = 0.93). There were no significant differences in response and remission rates between blue-light conditions and inactive or active light conditions. Blue-light therapy was overall well-tolerated. Conclusions: The efficacy of blue-light therapy in the treatment of seasonal and non-seasonal MDD remains unproven. Future trials should be of longer duration, include larger sample sizes, and attempt to better standardize the parameters of light therapy.
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“In our study, the exposure time was fixed at 30 min per session [7, 37].”
Sroykham, W., Iramina, K., Angsuwatanakul, T., & Wongsawat, Y. (2023) · Biomedical Engineering International Conference · doi:10.1109/bmeicon60347.2023.10321984 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Understanding the effects of light and color on brain activity paves the way for innovative neuro-therapeutic interventions and the design of lighting environments that optimize emotional well-being [7] and cognitive function [8].”
BackgroundPhytochemical heterocycles in depression management: A sustainable strategy
Kaur, H., & Kaur, T. (2026) · Scripta Medica · doi:10.5937/scriptamed57-60299
- Authors
- Do, A., Li, V. W., Huang, S., Michalak, E. E., Tam, E. M., Chakrabarty, T., Yatham, L. N., & Lam, R. W.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Lam, Raymond W.
- Venue
- The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2022-05-06
- Volume
- 67
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 745-754
- ISSN
- 0706-7437 (ISSN-L)
- 1497-0015
- PMC
- PMC9511000
- OpenAlex
- W4229044420
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 0.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (18925)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- blue light therapy, phototherapy, seasonal affective disorder, major depressive disorder, atypical depression, depression treatment efficacy, remission rate, treatment response, tolerability
- MeSH terms
- Depression, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Phototherapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Seasonal Affective Disorder
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