A simple portable ocular light device for phototherapy of seasonal affective disorder.
The authors report the development and a safety and acceptability study of a portable ocular light device, the SADlite. The study was conducted in 15 adult patients who had seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Each patient was given three two-week "on" phototherapy periods alternating with three two-week "off" periods. The SADlite provides 8,000 lux. Thirteen (13) of the 15 patients were completers and, as a group, achieved impressive clinical and statistically significant improvement (p < 0.0001) on three standard outcome measures. The SADlite was well tolerated, produced no adverse visual effect, and was preferred by patients previously exposed to stationary phototherapy devices.
Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire.
C L
CL
Ravaris
B
B
Elliott
M
M
Hegel
R
R
Rose
J
J
Schiffman
J
J
Singer
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000528:radiation effects; D000368:Aged; D003118:Color Perception; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity