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By Mayo Clinic staffLight therapy probably won't cure seasonal affective disorder, depression or other conditions. But with safe and effective light therapy, your symptoms can get better. You may feel better about yourself and life again, and have more energy.
Light therapy can start to improve symptoms within just a few days. In some cases, though, it can take two or more weeks.
Getting the most out of light therapy
Light therapy isn't effective for everyone. But you can take steps to get the most out of your light therapy and help make it a success, including:
- Be consistent. Sticking to a consistent daily routine of light therapy sessions can help ensure that you maintain improvements over time. If you simply can't do light therapy every day, take a day or two off, but monitor your mood and other symptoms — you may have to find a way to fit in light therapy every day.
- Time it right. If you interrupt light therapy during the winter months or stop too soon in the spring when you think you're improving, your symptoms could return.
- Check your light box. Make sure your light box is intended to treat seasonal affective disorder or your specific condition. Light boxes that aren't specifically designed to treat seasonal affective disorder may not have the appropriate brightness or safety features.
- Consider LEDs. Some newer light boxes use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of the more traditional fluorescent or incandescent light bulbs. Some evidence shows that LED light boxes emit more focused light and may be more effective.
- Include other treatment. If your symptoms don't improve enough, you may need additional treatment along with light therapy. Talk to your doctor about other treatment options, such as psychotherapy or antidepressants.
- Morgan AJ, et al. Self-help interventions for depressive disorders and depressive symptoms: A systematic review. Annals of General Psychiatry. 2008;7:13.
- Glickman G, et al. Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder with blue narrow-band light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Biological Psychiatry. 2006;59(6):502-507.
- Desan PH, et al. A controlled trial of the Litebook light-emitting diode (LED) light therapy device for treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). BMC Psychiatry. 2007;7:38.
- Lurie SJ, et al. Seasonal affective disorder. American Family Physician. 2006;74(9): 1521-4.
- Byrne B, et al. Seasonal affective disorder and light therapy. Sleep Medicine Clinics. 2008;3:307-315.
- Even C, et al. Efficacy of light therapy in nonseasonal depression: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2008;108(1-2):11-23.
- Rosenthal NE. Winter Blues: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Rev. ed. New York, N.Y.: Guilford Press; 2006:113-165.
