Light Therapy For Depression In Pregnancy

Bright light therapy blt is a promising treatment for pregnant women with depressive disorder for it combines direct availability sufficient efficacy low costs and high safety taking the safety for the unborn child into account as well.

Light therapy for depression in pregnancy.

Everyday at a certain time the pregnant woman can sit nearby the light box where her eyes are exposed to the light being emitted from the light box. The researchers conducted a pilot experiment to see whether exposure to bright light a technique used to treat those suffering from seasonal affective disorder. Depression during pregnancy is a difficult problem since women are. Light therapy may improve symptoms in pregnant women with depression suggests a new study of 27 women in switzerland.

If you want to try light therapy for nonseasonal depression or another condition talk to your doctor about how light therapy can be most effective. April 5 2004 bright light therapy may relieve depression during pregnancy possibly as well as antidepressants would. In an open trial 16 pregnant patients with dsm iv major depression were treated with 3 to 5 weeks of light therapy. To be effective light from the light box must enter your eyes indirectly.

Women who are pregnant or postpartum and struggling with mild to moderate symptoms of depression may be good candidates for bright light therapy particularly if there is a reluctance to consider medication management which might be for a myriad of reasons including side effects. The availability of an easy to use potentially non toxic antidepressant light therapy in pregnancy is a clinically attractive option. Bright light therapy may provide a means to improve regulation of the serotonergic system in women with perinatal depression and bright light therapy poses far less risk to the developing baby and newborn than current pharmacotherapy. Thus there is a clear need for effective non pharmacologic treatments for women at high risk for antenatal depression.

During light therapy sessions you sit or work near a light box. Bright light therapy blt is a promising treatment for pregnant women with depressive disorder for it combines direct availability sufficient efficacy low costs and high safety taking the safety for the unborn child into account as well. Bright light therapy may be an effective treatment for depression in pregnant women.