Clinical experience with phototherapy

Journal of Affective DisordersPublished 1 February 1990

Deborah Stinson, Christopher M. Thompson

DOI10.1016/0165-0327(90)90069-k

Source URL

Citations58

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score2.12

SNIP1.65

TL;DR

Results indicated that the more severe the atypical symptoms of depression the more likely they were to respond to phototherapy, while greater severity of 'endogenous' symptoms predicted a poor response.

Abstract

Thirty subjects with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and three subjects with a non-seasonal depression had a trial of phototherapy in an open assessment of the feasibility of phototherapy in clinical practice. 43% of the SAD subjects met the criteria for 'successful treatment', but none of the subjects with non-seasonal depression showed any response. Due to personal constraints, not all were able to receive light exposure up to the amount recommended. Results indicated that the more severe the atypical symptoms of depression the more likely they were to respond to phototherapy, while greater severity of 'endogenous' symptoms predicted a poor response. Several subjects used the trial to decide whether to purchase equipment to continue treatment. Follow-up information on these subjects is presented.

Keywords

MedicineNeuroscience

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