Could you tell me if light stimulation might be an adequate treatment for sleep-related disorders?
For instance blue light influences melatonin production, what might be helpful to re-entrain the circadian rhythm. Do you know about some light treatment that is nowadays used clinically?
I will be most grateful if someone could give me some information!
Dear Adriana, with my pleasure (sorry for very little help).
Vladimir
In delayed sleep phase, light treatment, 10 000lux for 30 minutes when you wake up would gradually move the night backwards toward a socially acceptable time of sleep.
Adriana,
Like therapy probably has many uses including especially in circadian rhythm sleep disorders. It also probably is helpful for seasonal affective disorder. I can be more specific if you like.
P Terrence Moore M.D.
I am more than grateful for your help and useful attachments!
I just wish to know your opinions about the effectiveness of light therapy. I mean, can it be considered as a form of reliable treatment in clinical settings or is it more at a stage of research testing and you will not trust it as a physician?
Yours sincerely,
Adriana
Adriana,
Light therapy can be very effective. It must be done properly and other things about sleep need to be in order for it to work. I have used it in my practice of Sleep Medicine.
P. Terrence Moore, MD
Yes, it is perfect, and for advanced sleep phase disorder it is the only effective treatment. You should take into account that even though the blue spectrum is the best to resynchronized circadian rhythms, it is better to avoid this wavelength because overstimulates the melanopsin receptors and causes retinal damage. It is better to use white light(4000 Kelvin- 10.000lux).
Monica Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Many thanks to you for your answers!
Mr Paul Moore, could you tell me what do you mean by 'things about sleep need to be for it to work', please?
Mrs Monica Mc Gonzalez, is it the same kind of blue light like one emitting from computer/smartphone screens?
yes.Check this: Front Public Health. 2015; 3: 233. PMCID: PMC4602096
Bigger, Brighter, Bluer-Better? Current Light-Emitting Devices – Adverse Sleep Properties and Preventative Strategies
Paul Gringras,1,* Benita Middleton,2 Debra J. Skene,2 and Victoria L. Revell2
Hi Adriana,
I think light therapy can be beneficial for those with primary phase advance/delay sleep disorders and circadian disrruption. However, for secondary sleep disorders, searching for primary causes, such as mental illness, adverse effects from pharmacotherapy or other primary sleep disorder, is more important, and light therapy may thus not as effective as for primary circadian disrruption.
Dear Ta-wei Guu,
thank you for your answer! Do you think that light theraphy might be beneficial for people, who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, as well? Is it reasonable to apply a light therapy, just as a support to, for instance Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Kind regards
Hello,
thie recent paper may help you
All best
Effects of Waon therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.
Soejima Y, Munemoto T, Masuda A, Uwatoko Y, Miyata M, Tei C.
Intern Med. 2015;54(3):333-8.
I recommended you this publication from Terman. They are good papers describing the benefits of the BLT on sleep disorders.
Good luck!
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