Light Therapy Shows Potential as Anti-Depressant Alternative
January 10th, 2011
A small study from the Netherlands found that light therapy was equally effective as anti-depressant medication in fighting depression for older adults, but without the negative side effects. The researchers caution that because depression is serious, “people with symptoms should not self-treat, even though light boxes are available without prescription.” Light therapy may not be appropriate for everyone, but in the study, they were effective for seniors who’d been avoiding medication out of mistrust or from fear of side effects (which are more prevalent for older individuals). For some people, therapy and counseling for depression are more effective when paired with another type of treatment. Depending on the results of future research, light therapy may be a less invasive alternative to medication, yet yield similar results.
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Comments
this is great news indeed! all the healing without any of the side effects sounds like a great deal for anyone having the troublesome problem of depression.
I have one of those light boxes and it helps me so much during the winter time when there is so much less sunlight. I have been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder so this has been a lifesaver for me at times. I get so down during this time of the year.
@Bethany:I feel depressed in the cold months just like you but there is no real medication or technique that I’ve found that can help me effectively.Maybe it’s time I spoke with my doc regarding light therapy :)
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