A Bright Light for Bipolars?

Light therapy has previously been shown to effectively treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). However, there is recent compelling evidence that light therapy might also be useful in treating Bipolar patients who are in a depressed phase.  Researchers noted that when Bipolar patients utilized “light boxes” at mid-day, they noticed a decrease in depressive symptoms. In contrast, when light therapy was introduced in the morning, many patients experienced “mixed state” symptoms; or a combination of both manic and depressive symptoms. The study roundup, found at ScienceDaily, offers important information on how light exposure may interact with the patient’s circadian rhythms and effect bipolar disorder. Even better, light therapy could prove to be an easy way to augment traditional treatment for bipolar disorder and help alleviate depressive symptoms. Have you ever used a light box?