Seasonal affective disorder treatment: Choosing a light therapy box

Light therapy boxes can offer an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder. Features such as light intensity, safety, cost and style are important considerations when you buy a light box.

A light therapy box is a device used mainly to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression. Its use is also being studied in other types of depression. Light therapy mimics outdoor light. This causes a biochemical change in your brain that lifts your mood and reduces symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Light therapy boxes are also known as light boxes, bright light therapy boxes and phototherapy boxes.

Understanding a light therapy box

Light therapy hasn't officially been approved as a seasonal affective disorder treatment by the Food and Drug Administration because of mixed evidence about its effectiveness. But for some people, light therapy treatment can improve the depressed mood of seasonal affective disorder and perhaps other types of depression, too.

You can buy a light therapy box over-the-counter, without a doctor's prescription. Internet retailers, drugstores and even some hardware stores offer a wide variety of light therapy boxes and other light devices for seasonal affective disorder treatment.

But take caution before buying. Not all light therapy boxes being sold have been tested to make sure they're safe and effective. And different light boxes work in different ways, using different parts of the light spectrum and offering different illumination intensities. That's why it's especially important to understand what you're buying and what features to consider. It's also important to check with your health professional before buying a light therapy box.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Depression (major depression)

Features and factors to consider in a light therapy box

Here are some features to understand and consider when buying a light therapy box for seasonal affective disorder treatment:

• SAD-specific. Make sure the light therapy box is specifically designed to treat seasonal affective disorder. If it's not, it may not be as effective in treating SAD.
• Intensity. Look for a light therapy box that provides the right intensity of light when you're a comfortable distance away. Some light boxes offer the preferred 10,000 lux only when you're within a few inches of the box, while others can reach a distance of nearly two feet.
• Minimal UV exposure. Many, but not all, light therapy boxes now filter out harmful ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light can cause eye and skin damage. Look for a light box that produces as little UV light as possible at high intensity or that carefully shields the UV rays it produces. If you're not sure about the UV light exposure, ask the manufacturer for safety information.
• LEDs. Traditionally, light therapy boxes have used fluorescent or incandescent lights. Some manufacturers are now selling light therapy boxes with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs can produce light in a narrower, more targeted wavelength. LEDs are also more efficient and lighter weight than standard lights.
• Blue light. White light is the standard type of light used in light therapy boxes. But some newer light therapy boxes give off narrow-spectrum blue light. This blue light has a shorter wavelength, which some research shows is more effective at reducing seasonal affective disorder symptoms. On the other hand, blue light poses a greater risk than does white light of damaging your eye's retina because your retina is more sensitive to the shorter blue wavelengths. To help reduce this risk, don't look directly at the light source in any light therapy box. Check with the manufacturer if you have concerns about a light box's safety.
• Light direction. Light from a light therapy box should come from above your line of sight, not directly at it or below it. Make sure the light box you want can be positioned appropriately.
• Dawn simulation. Some light therapy boxes simulate dawn — they turn on in the morning while you're asleep and gradually get brighter until you wake up.
• Cost. Prices vary greatly, from about $200 to $500, and more. Health insurance plans don't always cover the cost of light therapy boxes. Check with your insurance company to see if your benefits will cover the cost.
• Style. Some light boxes look like upright lamps, while others are small and rectangular. You can even buy a light therapy device attached to a visor, which enables you to receive light therapy while remaining active. However, keep in mind that scientific evidence about the effectiveness of light visors is lacking.
• Convenience. Some light boxes are bigger than others, which can make them less portable. Find one that you can move easily and that fits the desired location in your home or office. Some light therapy boxes offer a variety of other features, such as programmable timers, clocks, carrying cases, stands, wall-mount options and extended batteries, among other features. Decide which features are important to you.

A last check before buying a light therapy box

Before plunking down any hard-earned cash, talk to your doctor, mental health provider or pharmacist about the light therapy box you're thinking about buying. He or she may offer additional guidance or tips to make sure that seasonal affective disorder treatment with a light therapy box is both safe and effective for you.

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• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)