title: The effect of ambient bright light therapy on depressive symptoms in persons with dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of ambient bright light therapy on depressive symptoms in persons with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cluster-unit crossover intervention trial involving four lighting conditions: morning bright light, evening bright light, all-day bright light, and standard light.
  
  
  METHODS
  The common areas of two geriatric units in a state-operated psychiatric hospital in North Carolina and in a dementia-specific residential care facility in Oregon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six older adults with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ambient bright light therapy was delivered through a high-intensity, low-glare lighting system installed in the public areas of study units at both sites. Each lighting condition was provided for multiple 3-week periods in a predetermined sequence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Staff caregivers completed the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) in the last week of each 3-week period to provide information about participants' moods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis indicated a sex-by-treatment interaction (P=.008). Significant sex differences were found in CSDD scores in response to evening light (P=.003), all-day light (P=.001), and standard light (P</=.001). Depressive symptoms were lowest for women and highest for men during morning light.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings do not support the use of ambient bright light therapy as a treatment for depressive symptoms in persons with dementia, although a subpopulation of persons with dementia may benefit from this intervention. It is likely that individual rather than unit-level interventions are a more effective strategy for delivering bright light therapy for this population.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. hickmans@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hickman
authors.forename: Ann Louise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Barrick
authors.forename: Christianna S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Bettye Rose
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Preisser
authors.forename: C Madeline
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Sloane
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006783:Hospitals, State; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D009922:Oregon; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010789:Phototherapy; D012931:Social Environment; D017211:Treatment Failure