The effects of light therapy on depressed elders.
BACKGROUND
Elderly depression has gradually become a severe issue in the health care system. No studies have focused on evaluating the effects of light therapy on the elderly with depression in a subtropical climate area.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of light therapy on hospitalized, depressed elders living in a subtropical climate area.


METHODS
Experimental design was used. For the experimental group, patients sat in front of a light box, receiving 5000 lux in the morning. The light therapy course was administered for 50 minutes per day and lasted for 5 days. The control group did not receive any treatment.


RESULTS
Depressive symptoms were significantly reduced in the experimental group at post-test but no significant decline was found in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Based upon the results of this study, light therapy could be used to decrease depressive symptoms in the elderly.
Tsai
Yun-Fang
YF
School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Taiwan. yftsai@mail.cgu.edu.tw
Wong
Thomas K S
TK
Juang
Yeong-Yuh
YY
Tsai
Hsiu-Hsin
HH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014329:Tropical Climate