Dauphinais DR, Rosenthal JZ, Terman M, Difebo HM, Tuggle C, Rosenthal NE.
Psychiatry Res. 2012 Mar 14. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract
Treatment of bipolar disorder often results in patients taking several drugs in attempt to alleviate residual depressive symptoms, which can lead to an accumulation of side effects. New treatments for bipolar depression that do not increase the side effect burden are needed. One nonpharmacological treatment with few side effects, bright light therapy, has shown to be an effective therapy for seasonal affective disorder yet has not been extensively studied for other forms of depression. Forty-four adults with bipolar disorder, depressed phase were randomized to treatment with bright light therapy, low-density or high-density negative ion generator for eight weeks. The primary measure of efficacy was the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale with Atypical Depression Supplement (SIGH-ADS). Adverse events were assessed using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent effects (SAFTEE). All outcome variables were statistically analyzed using a mixed model repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed no statistically significant differences between groups in any outcome measures at study end point; adverse events, including switches into hypomania were rare. Further research is needed to determine efficacy of bright light therapy in this population.