Bright light therapy has been the subject of numerous studies, and its efficacy has been established for certain conditions. Here are some key studies and references that contribute to our understanding of bright light therapy:
SAD
Terman, M., & Terman, J. S. (2005). Light therapy for seasonal and nonseasonal depression: efficacy, protocol, safety, and side effects. CNS Spectrums, 10(8), 647-663.
Golden, R. N., Gaynes, B. N., Ekstrom, R. D., et al. (2005). The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(4), 656-662.
Insomnia
Riemersma-van der Lek, R. F., Swaab, D. F., Twisk, J., et al. (2008). Effect of bright light and melatonin on cognitive and noncognitive function in elderly residents of group care facilities: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 299(22), 2642-2655.
Lack, L., & Wright, H. (2007). The effect of evening bright light in delaying the circadian rhythms and lengthening the sleep of early morning awakening insomniacs. Sleep, 30(12), 1547-1552
Jet Lag and Shift work
Crowley, S. J., Lee, C., Tseng, C. Y., Fogg, L. F., & Eastman, C. I. (2003). Combinations of bright light, scheduled dark, sunglasses, and melatonin to facilitate circadian entrainment to night shift work. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 18(6), 513-523.
Smith, M. R., Eastman, C. I., & Shappell, E. (2009). Night shift performance is improved by a compromise circadian phase position: study 3. Circulation, 119(14), 1856-1864.
General Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Golden, R. N., Gaynes, B. N., Ekstrom, R. D., et al. (2005). The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(4), 656-662.
Nussbaumer-Streit, B., Forneris, C. A., Morgan, L. C., et al. (2019). Light therapy for preventing seasonal affective disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3(3), CD011269.
