Efficacy of enhanced evening light for advanced sleep phase syndrome.

Abstract

This study tested whether a newly designed enhanced evening light therapy was well tolerated and effective in relieving symptoms of Advanced, Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS). Participants with self-reported ASPS symptoms were 47 older adults (21 men and 26 women, age 60-86). After baseline, participants underwent 28 consecutive days of either dim or enhanced intensity light treatment for 2-3 hr in the evening. Enhanced evening light (approximately 265 lux) exposure was no more effective than a placebo dim light (approximately 2 lux) at alleviating advanced sleep phase as measured by actigraphically recorded sleep and urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) excretion patterns. Participants receiving the enhanced light reported subjective benefit and a significant delay in sleep onset as compared to the placebo. Although compliance was good and the new enhanced evening light therapy design was well tolerated, the benefits were statistically equivocal.

• Authors: Christopher R Palmer, Daniel F Kripke, Henry C Savage Jr, Larry A Cindrich, Richard T Loving, Jeffrey A Elliott
• Journal: Behavioral sleep medicine (Behav Sleep Med) Vol. 1 Issue 4 Pg. 213-26 ( 2003) ISSN: 1540-2002 [Print] England
• PMID: 15602801 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Circadian Rhythm (physiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phototherapy (methods)
• Sleep Wake Disorders (therapy)
• Surveys and Questionnaires