Using Light Therapy At Home To Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): What Is Light Therapy

Using Light Therapy At Home To Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Introduction
What is light therapy?
Why is light therapy used to treat SAD?
How is light therapy done?
Where to go from here
Related Information
References
Credits

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What is light therapy?

Light therapy is treatment with a special type of light that is much brighter than a lamp or other light fixture in your home. The most common form of this therapy is done with a light box that contains fluorescent—not ultraviolet or full-spectrum— lights.

To use light therapy, you sit at a prescribed distance from the light box. The amount of exposure you need depends on the intensity of light you use and could range anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. The intensity of light usually ranges between 2,500 and 10,000 lux (10,000 lux is about 20 times as bright as normal indoor lighting).

Although light boxes are the most common type of light therapy, dawn simulation is also used. With dawn simulation, a low-intensity light gradually comes on while you're sleeping, about 2 hours before you usually wake up. Some studies suggest that dawn simulation may not be as effective as light box therapy.¹

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Last updated:	August 22, 2006
Author:	Sabra L. Katz-Wise
Reviewed By:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Alfred Lewy, MD, PhD - Neurology, Psychiatry
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Terrina Vail

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