Bright Light Treatment Improves Nonseasonal Depressive Disorder - Depression Resources, Education About Depression and Unipolar Depression

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Ritsaert Lieverse, M.D., of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues randomized 89 outpatients, 60 years of age or older, with MDD to three weeks of one-hour early morning BLT or placebo. The investigators found that BLT improved mood, enhanced sleep efficiency, and increased the upslope melatonin level gradient. In addition, the beneficial effects of BLT continued after discontinuation of treatment.