Light therapy news

Post-operative benefits of bright light

28 Jun 2011
Researchers have discovered that bright light therapy (BLT) as part of post-operative care can adjust the sleep/wake cycle of patients and improve recovery in the days after surgery. In a recent study, a group of esophagectomy (removal... more»

Light therapy for non-seasonal depression

6 Jan 2011
Since bright light therapy (BLT) is such an effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder, researchers have been keen to explore the possibilities of using it to treat general, non-seasonal depression. Two recently published... more»

SAD: a cortisol connection?

16 Dec 2010
The hormone cortisol helps to regulate blood pressure and metabolism and in healthy adults is usually at its highest level first thing in the morning - to set you up for the day - and lowest at night. New research showed that in a group... more»

Winter-born mice set for life

7 Dec 2010
A study published in journal ‘Nature Neuroscience’ has found that the month you are born affects more than just your star sign. Researchers think that our biological clocks may be subject to seasonal ‘imprinting’... more»

Depression linked to circadian gene activity

10 Nov 2010
Scientists have discovered that a ‘clock gene’ involved in the regulation of circadian rhythm is more active in people with mood disorders.   People with and without a history of depression took part and the two... more»

Now there's a 'happy chair' for SAD

20 Aug 2010
When Taiwanese student Chuang Meng Jung came to study in Scotland, she soon noticed how different the grey skies were compared to the sunnier climes of her home country. After researching the effects... more»

Light therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

15 Jun 2010
An ongoing study monitoring soldiers returning to the US with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been presented to the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. The research suggests that light therapy can... more»