Bright light treatment for high-anxious young adults: a randomized controlled pilot study

Background: Available treatments for anxiety have limitations and/or side effects. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of bright light exposure as a treatment in high‐anxious young adults. Methods: In an acute exposure study, participants (n = 33) were randomly assigned to 45 min of (1) bright light or (2) placebo. Participants then performed a 5‐week study (n = 29). Following a 1‐week baseline, participants were randomly assigned to 4 weeks of daily exposure to either (1) bright light (45 min/day) or (2) placebo treatment, initiated ≤1 hr after awakening. Before and after the experiment, clinical ratings were conducted with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM‐A), Hamilton Depression Scale, and Clinical Global Impressions scale. Following each week, blood pressure, anxiety (Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory Y1), depression, mood, sleep, and side effects were assessed. Results: No significant treatment effect was found in the acute exposure study. Likewise, in the 5‐week study, no significant treatment effect was found. However, bright light elicited marginally greater reductions in psychic symptoms of the HAM‐A (P = .06) and other measures. Conclusions: This pilot study provides little compelling evidence for an anxiolytic effect of bright light in high‐anxious young adults. Depression and Anxiety, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.