Randomized controlled trial of light therapy for fatigue following traumatic brain injury.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the efficacy of 4 weeks of blue light therapy for reducing fatigue and daytime sleepiness in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Results Summary
High-intensity blue light therapy reduced fatigue and daytime sleepiness during treatment, with effects trending toward baseline levels after cessation. No significant effects were observed with yellow light therapy or no treatment, nor for depression or psychomotor vigilance performance.
Population
Patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance (n=10 per group).
Effective Dosage
45 minutes per morning of blue light (λmax = 465 nm, 84.8 µW/cm², 39.5 lux, 1.74 × 10¹⁴ photons/cm²/s) or yellow light (λmax = 574 nm, 18.5 µW/cm², 68 lux, 1.21 × 10¹² photons/cm²/s).
Duration
4 weeks of treatment, with follow-up assessments up to 8 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high-intensity blue light therapy | decrease | fatigue | patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance | - | resulted in reduced | #1 |
high-intensity blue light therapy | decrease | daytime sleepiness | patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance | - | resulted in reduced | #2 |
lower-intensity yellow light therapy | no change | fatigue | patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance | - | These changes were not observed with | #3 |
lower-intensity yellow light therapy | no change | daytime sleepiness | patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance | - | These changes were not observed with | #4 |
no treatment control conditions | no change | fatigue | patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance | - | These changes were not observed with | #5 |
no treatment control conditions | no change | daytime sleepiness | patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance | - | These changes were not observed with | #6 |
high-intensity blue light therapy | no change | self-reported depression | patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance | - | There was also no significant treatment effect observed for | #7 |
high-intensity blue light therapy | no change | psychomotor vigilance performance | patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance | - | There was also no significant treatment effect observed for | #8 |
BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common, persistent complaint following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Effective treatment is not well established. OBJECTIVE: .The current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of 4 weeks of light therapy for fatigue in patients with TBI. METHODS: We undertook a randomized, placebo-controlled study of 4-week, 45 min/morning, home-based treatment with short wavelength (blue) light therapy (λmax = 465 nm, 84.8 µW/cm(2), 39.5 lux, 1.74 × 10(14) photons/cm(2)/s) compared with yellow light therapy (λmax = 574 nm, 18.5 µW/cm(2), 68 lux, 1.21 × 10(12) photons/cm(2)/s) containing less photons in the short wavelength range and a no treatment control group (n = 10 per group) in patients with TBI who self-reported fatigue and/or sleep disturbance. Assessments of fatigue and secondary outcomes (self-reported daytime sleepiness, depression, sleep quality, and sustained attention) were conducted over 10 weeks at baseline (week -2), midway through and at the end of light therapy (weeks 2 and 4), and 4 weeks following cessation of light therapy (week 8). RESULTS: After controlling age, gender, and baseline depression, treatment with high-intensity blue light therapy resulted in reduced fatigue and daytime sleepiness during the treatment phase, with evidence of a trend toward baseline levels 4 weeks after treatment cessation. These changes were not observed with lower-intensity yellow light therapy or no treatment control conditions. There was also no significant treatment effect observed for self-reported depression or psychomotor vigilance performance. CONCLUSIONS: Blue light therapy appears to be effective in alleviating fatigue and daytime sleepiness following TBI and may offer a noninvasive, safe, and nonpharmacological alternative to current treatments.