Bruce Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., Shervert Frazier Research Instit., McLean Hospital
Question: Is light therapy useful for depression in seasonal affective disorder?
Answer: Light therapy can be useful for some people, especially those with seasonal affective disorder. It seems to be safe. It's not a substitute for other treatments such as medications or psychotherapy but can be added to them. It's less frequently successful for more serious or profound illness. And if one chooses to use light therapy, it's good to get some consultation on it because there are choices about what light to buy, where to sit, when to take the light therapy.
