Bright light therapy for depressive symptoms in hospitalized cardiac patients: A randomized controlled pilot trial.

ABSTRACT: Depression is common among cardiac patients and associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Bright light therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for depressive symptoms, however it has not yet been investigated in this population. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial to assess the feasibility of a larger-scale trial testing bright light therapy for depressive symptoms in cardiac patients. Patients hospitalized for an acute coronary syndrome or undergoing cardiac surgery were randomized to either bright light (10,000 lux) or dim light placebo (500 lux) lamps for 30 minutes each day over 4 weeks, beginning in-hospital. Depression was quantified using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21). The

SUBMITTER: Eisenberg MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7105123 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature