Bright light therapy shows effectiveness as adjunctive treatment for nonseasonal depressive disorders, with higher remission rates than control groups.

A review published in JAMA Psychiatry finds that bright light therapy (BLT) is an effective adjunctive treatment for nonseasonal depressive disorders. Analyzing 11 trials with 858 patients, researchers observed that 60.4% of those using BLT experienced a significant reduction in symptoms, compared to 38.6% in control groups. Remission rates were also higher in the BLT group (40.7% vs. 23.5%). The therapy is noted for its cost-effectiveness compared to medications or psychotherapy.