Chapter 42 - Chronotherapeutics (light and wake therapy) as a class of interventions for affective disorders

Abstract

Abstract Chronotherapeutics – treatments based on the principles of circadian rhythm organization and sleep physiology – offers mental health practitioners a set of nonpharmaceutical, rapid, and effective antidepressant modalities for monotherapy or as adjuvants to conventional medication. Here, we consider light exposure and sleep deprivation (more positively known as “wake therapy”) as first-line treatments for major depression, and we provide guidelines for use.