Light Therapy for Bipolar Disorder. Efficacy of Light Therapy for Bipolar Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Inclusion Criteria:

- Ages 18-65 years

- DSM-IV Criteria BD I or II depressive episode,

- SIGH-ADS >20; duration >2 weeks.

- Stable dose antidepressant drug >8 weeks with concurrent antimanic drug

- Controlled thyroid disease

- Subjects with preexisting eye diseases will be included.

- Able to provide informed consent

- Stable minimum dose antimanic drug >4weeks: lithium 0.5 mEq/L, divalproex Na 50
mcg/mL, olanzapine 5mg daily, carbamazepine 4mg/L; lamotrigine 100mg daily,
risperidone 2mg daily, quetiapine 400 mg daily, ziprasidone 10 mg bid, and
aripiprazole 5 mg qd.

- Stable unchanged psychotherapy for >16weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

- The following eye diseases: retinal disease, cataract surgery and lens removal,
macular degeneration,

- Taking photosensitizing drugs such as phenothiazines (chlorpromazine), antimalarial
drugs, melatonin and hypericum.

- Acute psychosis (DSM-IV Criteria)

- Rapid cycling in the past 1 year

- Obsessive compulsive disorder

- Alcohol or substance abuse or dependence in the past 6 months.

- MRS>5

- Recent history of a suicide attempt (3 months) or active suicidal Ideation (SIGHADS
item H11 >2)

- Beta-adrenergic blockers, exogenous melatonin, chronic NSAIDS