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By Mayo Clinic staffLight therapy probably won't cure seasonal affective disorder, depression or other conditions. But it may ease symptoms, increase your energy levels, and help you feel better about yourself and life.
Light therapy can start to improve symptoms within just a few days. In some cases, though, it can take two or more weeks.
Getting the most out of light therapy
Light therapy isn't effective for everyone. But you can take steps to get the most out of your light therapy and help make it a success.
- Get the right light box. Do some research and talk to your doctor before buying a light therapy box. That way you can be sure your light box is safe, the right brightness, and that its style and features make it convenient to use.
- Be consistent. Stick to a daily routine of light therapy sessions to help ensure that you maintain improvements over time. If you simply can't do light therapy every day, take a day or two off, but monitor your mood and other symptoms — you may have to find a way to fit in light therapy every day.
- Time it right. If you interrupt light therapy during the winter months or stop too soon in the spring when you think you're improving, your symptoms could return.
- Include other treatment. If your symptoms don't improve enough with light therapy, you may need additional treatment. Talk to your doctor about other treatment options, such as psychotherapy or antidepressants.
References
- Gabbard GO, et al. Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2007. http://psychiatryonline.org/content.aspx?bookid=4§ionid=1337596. Accessed Feb. 19, 2013.
- Shirani A, et al. Illuminating rationale and uses for light therapy. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2009;5:155.
- Howland RH. Somatic therapies for seasonal affective disorder. Journal of Psychological Nursing. 2009;47:17.
- Sivamani RK, et al. The benefits and risks of ultraviolet tanning and its alternatives: The role of prudent sun exposure. Dermatologic Clinics. 2009;27:129.
- Reeves GM, et al. Improvement in depression scores after 1 hour of light therapy treatment in patients with seasonal affective disorder. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2012;200:51.
- Rastad C, et al. Improvement in fatigue, sleepiness, and health-related quality of life with bright light treatment in persons with seasonal affective disorder and subsyndromal SAD. Depression Research and Treatment. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/drt/2011/543906/. Accessed Feb. 19, 2013.
- Roecklein KA, et al. Cognitive and behavioral predictors of light therapy use. PLOSone. 2012;7:e39275. http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039275. Accessed Feb. 19, 2013.
- Privitera MR, et al. Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder in a clinical office setting. Journal of Psychiatric Practice. 2010;16:387.
- Menter A, et al. Guidelines of care of the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;62:114.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 26, 2013.
- Auger RR (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 25, 2013.
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