Phototherapy with ultraviolet radiation: a study of hormone parameters and psychological effects.
OBJECTIVE
Patients report well-being as they are treated with phototherapy. We investigated hormone parameters and psychological well-being after phototherapy in a placebo-controlled study.


METHODS
A total of 77 patients with dermatological conditions and 22 healthy volunteers were divided into four groups. The patients received phototherapy either on the whole body or only on hands and/or feet. The volunteers were given either whole-body phototherapy or placebo light. Serum or plasma samples were analysed for cortisol, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, TSH, T(4), T(3) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and urine samples for cortisol. Patients and volunteers answered a questionnaire before and 6 weeks after phototherapy/placebo light. Psychiatric ratings were performed according to the Comprehensive Psychopathological Self-rating Scale for Affective Syndromes, a self-report version of which has been transformed to correspond to the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).


RESULTS
In the patients who received whole-body irradiation, we observed a significant improvement in both MADRS score and cognitive-symptom score after the completion of phototherapy. We also observed a significantly higher level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D after phototherapy, but no difference in the other hormone parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Whole-body phototherapy of patients with dermatological conditions results in improved well-being and significantly higher levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in serum.
Department of Dermatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. desiree.wiegleb-edstrom@karolinska.se
D W
DW
Edström
J
J
Linder
G
G
Wennersten
K
K
Brismar
A-M
AM
Ros
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D005528:Foot; D006225:Hand; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D010919:Placebos; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology
D006728:Hormones; D010919:Placebos; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D013974:Thyroxine; D006854:Hydrocortisone