Bright light augmentation in antidepressant nonresponders.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to examine the potential benefit of the addition of bright lights to antidepressant treatment in depressed subjects.

METHOD: Ten patients who presented during the winter months with major depression and who had failed an adequate trial of antidepressants or who had relapsed following a successful course of antidepressants underwent a 2-week course of bright light therapy.

RESULTS: Augmentation with bright lights resulted in substantial improvement in 7 of the 10 patients.

CONCLUSION: Bright light augmentation may provide a useful treatment alternative for patients with treatment-resistant depression.