A Case of Bright Light Therapy in a Treatment Resistant Patient with Major Depressive Disorder

Chae Kyo Cheong; Seong Jae Kim; Jung Hie Lee

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.600

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.54(4) > 1017781

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Cheong, Kim, and Lee: A Case of Bright Light Therapy in a Treatment Resistant Patient with Major Depressive Disorder

Case Report

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(4): 600-604.

Published online: 30 November 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.600

A Case of Bright Light Therapy in a Treatment Resistant Patient with Major Depressive Disorder

Chae Kyo Cheong, MD¹, Seong Jae Kim, MD, PhD², Jung Hie Lee, MD, PhD^1,³

¹Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.

²Department of Psychiatry, Yesarang Hospital, Cheongju, Korea.

³Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Jung Hie Lee, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University Hospital, 156 Baengnyeong-ro, Chuncheon 24289, Korea. Tel +82-33-258-2000, Fax +82-33-258-9436, jhielee@kangwon.ac.kr

Received 28 July 2015 Revised 16 September 2015 Accepted 23 September 2015

Abstract

The light therapy has been known to be effective to non-seasonal affective disorder as well as seasonal affective disorder. Although the mechanism of action of light therapy for depressive disorder has not been verified yet, its clinical application revealed similar effects like antidepressants and relatively smaller side effects. However, it is not common to apply the light therapy for treatment resistant depressive disorder. This case report indicates a robust efficacy of light therapy and its clinical usefulness, illustrating the complete remission in a treatment resistant patient with major depressive disorder after bright light therapy.

Keywords: Bright light therapy, Non-seasonal affective disorder, Treatment resistant depressive disorder

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Salivary melatonin profile of the patient before light therapy. Dim light melatonin onset was at 9:12 pm.

Table 1

Pharmacotherapy for the patient before light therapy

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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