Abstract
Bright light is a treatment of choice for seasonal affective disorder. Other indications for bright light therapy have also been tested.
These include nonseasonal depression, bipolar depression, chronic depressive disorder, ante-and postpartum depression, late luteal phase dysphoric disorder, circadian phase sleep disorders, jet lag, shift work problems, and behavioral disturbance and insomnia in organic dementia. Future studies should focus on exploring the use of light therapy in combination with sleep deprivation, other classes of antidepressants, and with psychotherapy and their possible combined effect on subtypes of depression or other mentioned diagnoses, light treatment duration, and the applicability and efficacy of adjunct light treatment for inpatients.