Light Therapy in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review of Interventional Studies.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the effectiveness of Light Therapy (LT) in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Results Summary
LT showed significant improvement in PTSD symptom severity in the single-arm study and two RCTs, but no significant differences were found between LT and placebo for sleep-related outcomes. Results on depression and anxiety were inconsistent.
Population
Patients with PTSD, mean age ranging from 31.4 to 44.9 years.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
4 or 6 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
light therapy (LT) | no change | subjective sleep parameters (sleep quality and insomnia severity) | patients with PTSD | no significant change | no significant differences | #1 |
light therapy (LT) | no change | objective sleep parameters | patients with PTSD | no significant change | no significant differences | #2 |
light therapy (LT) | decrease | PTSD symptom severity | patients with PTSD | - | significant improvement | #3 |
light therapy (LT) | increase | extinction learning | patients with PTSD | - | greater retention | #4 |
light therapy (LT) | neutral | depression | patients with PTSD | - | discrepant results | #5 |
light therapy (LT) | neutral | anxiety | patients with PTSD | - | discrepant results | #6 |
Background: Due to limitations in treatment strategies for post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), therapeutic options such as light therapy (LT) have garnered some interest in recent years. We aimed to review the effectiveness of LT in patients with PTSD. Methods: Using PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, the Cochrane database, ClinicalTrials.gov, and PTSDpubs, we systematically searched for papers assessing the effect of LT in PTSD. We evaluated the risk of bias of included studies using the Cochrane handbook, and synthesized our findings following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA 2020). Results: From 140 initial papers, we included four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one single-arm study. The study sample size ranged between 15 and 82, the mean age (standard deviation) varied between 31.4 (8.8) and 44.9 (11.8) years, and LT was applied for four or six weeks. The risk of bias was low in three studies, and of some concern in the two other trials. Most studies reported no significant differences between LT and placebo regarding effects on subjective (sleep quality and insomnia severity) and objective sleep parameters. LT was associated with a significant improvement in PTSD symptom severity in the single-arm study and two RCTs, as well as a greater retention of extinction learning. Results on depression and anxiety were discrepant. Conclusions: This review revealed that relevant studies are scarce, with promising findings concerning PTSD symptoms, but inconsistencies for the other parameters. Further research projects are needed to better explore this topic.