No mood-altering effects found after treatment of normal subjects with bright light in the morning.
Studies have shown that depressed patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) respond to treatment with bright artificial light. In this study 2 hours of bright artificial light administered in the morning for 1 week did not alter mood in 11 normal subjects. This finding suggests that the mood-enhancing effect of light for SAD patients is not necessarily generalizable to other populations.
Rosenthal
N E
NE
Unit of Outpatient Services, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20205.
Rotter
A
A
Jacobsen
F M
FM
Skwerer
R G
RG
D000339:Affect; D001143:Arousal; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012621:Seasons; D012894:Sleep Stages