Trinh Alisa, Jain Pratik, Sabahath Shaikh, Wang Dongliang, Megna James L, Leontieva Luba
Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA.
Public Health and Preventive Medicine, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA.
Cureus. 2021 Mar 17;13(3):e13945. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13945.
Bright light therapy (BLT) has been increasingly used as an experimental treatment in non-seasonal unipolar depression. While clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of BLT in ameliorating depression for outpatients, studies examining BLT in the psychiatric inpatient setting are currently lacking.
The purpose of this study is to explore whether BLT as adjunctive treatment for depressive symptoms on an acute psychiatric floor is feasible and explore associated changes in depressive symptoms.
An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate 4B acute inpatient psychiatric unit. BLT was administered to participating patients as adjunctive therapy to their psychopharmacological and psychotherapy treatments on a daily basis throughout their hospitalization. Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), and Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 (OQ-45.2) were administered before commencing BLT and after their last BLT session. Changes to the aforementioned measures before and after BLT treatment, the dose response of measure changes based on number of sessions, and the hospital length of stay along with the secondary factors such as age, gender, other psychiatric comorbidities, social factors, and psychiatric medications were analyzed.
BLT is feasible on acute psychiatric inpatient floor with adherence of 94% and has very few side effects. The repeated measures of depression and functioning demonstrated significant decrease in depression and improvement in functioning. Although not statistically significant, clinical meaningful dose-response relationship was found between a number of BLT sessions and improvement in depressive symptoms with five BLT sessions being an optimal amount for depression amelioration.
BLT combined with the ongoing psychopharmacological treatment was well tolerated and easy to administer. It offers a simple, safe, and cost-effective approach to augmenting depressive treatment on an acute psychiatric floor.
强光疗法（BLT）已越来越多地被用作非季节性单相抑郁症的一种实验性治疗方法。虽然临床试验已证明强光疗法对门诊患者改善抑郁有效，但目前缺乏在精神科住院环境中对强光疗法的研究。
本研究的目的是探讨在急性精神科病房将强光疗法作为抑郁症状的辅助治疗是否可行，并探讨抑郁症状的相关变化。
在纽约州立大学（SUNY）北部地区4B急性住院精神科病房进行了一项观察性横断面研究。在整个住院期间，对参与研究的患者每天进行强光疗法，作为其心理药物治疗和心理治疗的辅助疗法。在开始强光疗法之前和最后一次强光疗法治疗后，使用贝克抑郁量表第二版（BDI-II）、汉密尔顿抑郁评定量表（HAM-D）和结果问卷-45.2（OQ-45.2）进行评估。分析了强光疗法治疗前后上述指标的变化、基于治疗次数的指标变化的剂量反应、住院时间以及年龄、性别、其他精神科合并症、社会因素和精神科药物等次要因素。
强光疗法在急性精神科住院病房是可行的，依从率为94%，且副作用极少。抑郁和功能的重复测量显示抑郁显著减轻，功能得到改善。虽然无统计学意义，但在强光疗法治疗次数与抑郁症状改善之间发现了具有临床意义的剂量反应关系，五次强光疗法治疗是改善抑郁的最佳次数。
强光疗法与正在进行的心理药物治疗相结合耐受性良好且易于实施。它为在急性精神科病房增强抑郁治疗提供了一种简单、安全且经济有效的方法。
