Bright light augmentation in antidepressant nonresponders.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to examine the potential benefit of the addition of bright lights to antidepressant treatment in depressed subjects.


METHODS
Ten patients who presented during the winter months with major depression and who had failed an adequate trial of antidepressants or who had relapsed following a successful course of antidepressants underwent a 2-week course of bright light therapy.


RESULTS
Augmentation with bright lights resulted in substantial improvement in 7 of the 10 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Bright light augmentation may provide a useful treatment alternative for patients with treatment-resistant depression.
Levitt
A J
AJ
Mood Disorders Clinic, Toronto General Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
Joffe
R T
RT
Kennedy
S H
SH
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012621:Seasons
D000928:Antidepressive Agents