title: Short-term effects of bright light therapy in adults with chronic nonspecific back pain: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present trial evaluated incorporation of bright light therapy in the treatment of chronic nonspecific back pain (CNBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter, open design with three parallel trial arms was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects received a novel therapeutic, an expected therapeutic ineffective low dose, or no light exposure at three different medical centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 125 CNBP patients reporting pain intensity of ≥3 points on item 5 of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over 3 weeks, 36 active treatment, 36 placebo controls, and 33 controls received 3 or no supplementary light exposures of 5.000 lx or 230 lx, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in self-reported scores of pain intensity (BPI sub-score 1) and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire) were the primary outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures were changes in self-reported overall pain sensation (BPI total score), grade of everyday life impairment (BPI sub-score 2), mood (visual analog scale), and well-being (World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in pain intensity were higher (1.0 [0.8-1.6]) in the bright light group compared with controls (0.3 [-0.1-0.8]; effect size D = 0.46). Changes in the depression score were also higher in the intervention group (1.5 [0.0-2.5]) compared with controls (0.0 [0.0-2.0]; effect size D = 0.86). No differences were seen in change scores between intervention vs sham group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present randomized controlled trial shows that light therapy even in low dose could improve depressive symptoms and reduce pain intensity in CNBP patients. Further research is needed for optimizing parameters of frequency, dose, and duration of therapeutic light exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences and Health System Management, Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine & Health Tourism, UMIT, Hall in Tyrol, Austria.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leichtfried
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matteucci Gothe
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kantner-Rumplmair
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mair-Raggautz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartenbach
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guggenbichler
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gehmacher
authors.forename: Leonore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schobersberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Bright Light Therapy (BLT); Chronic Nonspecific Back Pain; Depression; Multicenter Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)