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Seasonality and light conditions can affect bipolar-disorder episodes. Preliminary data have suggested antimanic effects of “dark therapy.” Blocking the blue-light spectrum signals the brain that there is total darkness, which orange-lensed glasses (blue blockers [BBs]) can accomplish; they also block melatonin-inhibiting effects of full-spectrum light. In a multicenter Norwegian trial, 24 hospitalized, treated patients with mania were randomized to wear BBs (https://www.lowbluelights.com/index.asp) or clear-lensed glasses from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. for 7 consecutive days.
Healthy controls (n=35) were monitored for 7 days at baseline and wore BB glasses for 7 days. Participants removed glasses when the lights were out and were monitored with acti…