Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this open trial was to examine the influence of acute bright light exposure on anxiety in older and young adults.MethodsThis study was ancillary to a complex 5-day laboratory experiment testing phase-responses to light at all times of the day. On 3 consecutive days, participants were exposed to bright light (3,000 lux) for 3 hours. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y1) was administered 5 minutes before and 20 minutes after each treatment. Mean state anxiety before and after treatment were analyzed by age, sex, and time ANOVA. To avoid floor effects, only participants with baseline STAI levels of ≥ 25 were included.ResultsA significant anxiolytic effect of bright light was found for the mean data, as well as for each of the three days. No significant main effect of age, sex, or interaction of these factors with STAI change were found.ConclusionThe results show consistent and significant (albeit modest) anxiolytic effects following acute bright light exposure in low anxiety adults. Further randomized, controlled trials in clinically anxious individuals are needed.
Highlights
The aim of this open trial was to examine the influence of acute bright light exposure on anxiety in older and young adults
The number of participants excluded from analysis due to low baseline State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) levels was 25
The results indicate a significant anxiolytic effect of acute bright light exposure
Summary
The aim of this open trial was to examine the influence of acute bright light exposure on anxiety in older and young adults. Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the US [1,2]. Their adverse side effects include dependency (for benzodiazepine agonists), drowsiness [8], impaired cognition and memory [8,9,10], and sexual dysfunction [10,11]. Bright light exposure would be a potentially attractive anxiolytic treatment. The common co-morbidity [5,18] and neurochemical similarity between anxiety and depression (e.g., responsiveness to the same drugs) [19] provide rationales for expecting that bright light might have substantial anxiolytic effects
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