Tag Archives: Seasonal affective disorder

SHORT NOTE ON PHOTOTHERAPY-BASIC CLINICAL SCIENCES

Light Therapy
Image by cabarney via Flickr

Phototherapy

Definition

Phototherapy, or light therapy, is the administration of doses of bright light in order to normalize the body‘s internal clock and/or relieve depression.

DESCRIPTION

Phototherapy is generally administered at home. The most commonly used phototherapy equipment is a portable lighting device known as a light box. The box may be mounted upright to a wall, or slanted downwards towards a table. The patient sits in front of the box for a prescribed period of time (anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours).