Satisfaction research "Bright light in the office"
H.J.C. Hinnen
Application test center, Drachten, The Netherlands, 1999

Aim:
To analyze the effects of bright light exposure on health related quality of life aspects by office workers during winter.

Materials and methods:
In the field study, carried out in three companies (Avero B.V. a large Insurance company In Leeuwarden en Zaandam, SWS, Housing association in Eindhoven and Philips DAP, Shaver factory in Drachten) 200 healthy people participated. The test period was autumn / winter, 1999/2000. The subjects used the bright light for 6 weeks at the desk of their office, for at least 2 hours a day (@2500 lux) and were asked to fill in a special designed questionnaire afterwards.

Results:
Fitter during work 57.2% (of the users)
Better concentration 35.7%
More cheerful 47.9%
Increased productivity 29.9%
Increased alertness 27.3%
Fitter after work 36.3%
Fitter when getting up 23.7%
Fancy fewer snacks in between 23.9%

Conclusions:
More than half of the people (52.5%) are satisfied with the uses of the bright light and want to continue using the bright light. Companies who participated are enthusiastic and all decided to continue the use of the bright light.


Bright light during the night shift.
H.J.C.Hinnen, A.M.C.Schoutens
An Application test center, Drachten, The Netherlands, 1999
B MediluX B.V., Helvoirt, The Netherlands, 1999

Aim:
To analyze the effect of bright light exposure on health related quality of life aspects by night shift nurses.

Materials and methods:
In the field study, carried out in four hospitals in the Netherlands, 57 healthy people participated. The test period was April till December 1999. The subjects used the bright light during the night shift, for at least 0.5 hour each night. They were asked to fill in a specially designed questionnaire before and after they used the bright light.

Results:
Subjects 20% male and 80% female, average age 39 years (24-54).

68.5% of the night shift nurses was satisfied after using the bright light. They:
· Slept better during the day
· Felt fitter during work
· Were less cranky and more alert

Conclusions:
Bright light during the night shift is satisfying for 68% of the night shift nurses. The negative effects of working during the night are relieved with 20% and this is of direct influence on the well being and performance of the night shift workers.

Read more.

A. Scientific support base, scientific articles

1. Terman M., Terman J.S., Quitkin F.M., McGrath P.J., Stewart J.W., Rafferty B (1989): Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder, A Review of Efficacy. Neuropsychopharmacology 2: 1-22

2. Kasper S., Rogers S.L., Yancey A.L., Schulz P.M., Skwerer R.G., Rosenthal N.E. (1989): Phototherapy in Individuals With and Without Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 46: 837-844

3. Wirz-Justice A., Graw P., Krauchi K., Gisin B., Jochum A., Arendt J., Fisch H.U., Buddeberg C., Poldinger W. (1993): Light Therapy in Seasonal Affective Disorder is Independent of Time of Day or Circadian Phase. Arch Gen Psychiatry 50:929-937

4. Meeste Y. (1994): THERAPY AND PREVENTION OF WINTER DEPRESSION. The Importance of the Timing of the Exposure to Light. Thesis, Groningen.

5. Partonen T. (1995): SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER. The clinical picture and effects of bright light treatment in winter depression. Thesis, Helsinki

Remarks

Ref.1 Results of 29 light therapy studies were analyzed. The review shows clearly that Bright light is effective in reducing the symptoms of SAD.

Ref.2 The effects of bright light on individuals with Subsyndromal SAD were studied. The sub SAD group benefited from the therapy, while non-sub normal did not.

Ref.3 The results of this study are reflected by its title. Light therapy (2500 lux for 1 Hour for 1 week) was administered either at 7 AM or 10 PM.

Ref.4 Many aspects of light therapy are highlighted in this thesis. The original studies have also been published elsewhere.

Some examples:

MORNING AND EVENING LIGHT TREATMENT OF SEASONAL EFFECTIVE DISORDER: RESPONSE, RELAPSE, AND PREDICTION.
(Published in Journal of Affective Disorder 28: 165-177, 1993)

EARLY LIGHT TREATMENT CAN PREVENT AN EMERGING WINTER DEPRESSION.
(Published in Journal of Affective Disorders 29: 41-47, 1993)

AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT WINTER DEPRESSION BY LIGHT EXPOSURE AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
(Published in Biological Psychiatry 35: 284-286, 1994)

The thesis is a strong support for light therapy of SAD.

Ref.5 Apart from some original studies this thesis contains discussions on SAD and SAD related items.

B. Scientific support base, scientific books.

1. Lam Raymond W. (edited by): SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER AND BEYOND light Treatment for SAD and Non-SAD Conditions. 1998.
2. Wetterberg L. (edited by): LIGHT AND BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS IN MAN. 1993.
3. Rosenthal Norman E.: NEWLY REVISED WINTER BLUES, SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER, WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO OVERCOME IT. 1998.