Light mask 500 lux treatment for delayed sleep phase syndrome

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1999 Jan;23(1):15-24. doi: 10.1016/s0278-5846(98)00088-8.

Abstract

1. Bright light exposure has been demonstrated as an effective treatment for circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Recent studies suggest that more moderate intensities of light might affect endogenous rhythms. A light mask treatment, using light applied through eyelids during sleep, was tested for Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. 2. The active light group (n = 5) received 500 lux light for 3 hours prior to awakening for 12 days. The placebo light group (n = 5) received 0.1 lux light with the same timing. Circadian rhythm phase was assessed from core body temperature and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin measurements. The SIGH-SAD-SR mood scale was administered to assess mood. 3. There were slight trends toward a phase advance of the body temperature rhythm and a phase delay of the melatonin rhythm, and both groups reported anti-depressant benefits. However, no statistically significant effects of 500 lux light mask treatment were demonstrated compared with the placebo-light treatment. 4. More extensive studies will be required to clarify the factors of dose-response and phase-response.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affect / physiology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Body Temperature / physiology
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Melatonin / analogs & derivatives
  • Melatonin / urine
  • Middle Aged
  • Phototherapy / methods*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / therapy*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / urine
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • 6-sulfatoxymelatonin
  • Melatonin