Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy Is Effective for Nonseasonal Depression

Bright light therapy (BLT) is an established and inexpensive treatment for patients with seasonal (winter) depression: It is more effective than placebo and comparable to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In this meta-analysis, researchers examined the efficacy of BLT in outpatients with nonseasonal major depressive disorders (unipolar or bipolar). In the 11 trials, patients who were taking antidepressant medications were randomized to add-on treatment with BLT or with placebo (dim red light or negative-ion generator) for 30 minutes each morning.

BLT recipients were more likely than placebo recipients to have responses (60% vs. 39%) or remission (41% vs. 24%). Response and remission rates were higher with BLT than with placebo…