Effectiveness of Light Therapy in Cognitively Impaired Persons: A Metaanalysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

• Autores: Huei Ling Chiu, Pi Tuan Chan, Hsin Chu-, Shu Tai Sheen Hsiao, Doresses Liu-, Chueh Ho Lin-, Kuei Ru Chou
• Localización: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, ISSN 0002-8614, Vol. 65, Nº. 10, 2017, págs. 2227-2234
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objectives To explore the effects of light therapy on behavioral disturbances (BDs), sleep quality, and depression.

    Design Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

    Setting PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and clinicaltrials.gov of selected randomized controlled trials and previous systematic reviews were searched.

    Participants Cognitively impaired persons.

    Measurements Information was extracted on study characteristics, quality assessment, and outcomes. Outcome measures included BDs, sleep quality, and depression.

    Results Nine randomized controlled trials were examined. The results showed that light therapy has a moderate effect on BD (g = −0.61) and depression (g = −0.58) and a small effect on total sleep time at night (g = 0.25). Subgroup analysis indicated that a light intensity of 2,500 lux or greater has a greater effect on depression than an intensity of less than 2,500 lux (P = .03), and the low risk of bias in blinding was superior to the RCTs deemed to be of high or unclear risk of bias in blinding in terms of BD (P = .02).

    Conclusion Light therapy can relieve BD, improve sleep quality, and alleviate symptoms of depression for cognitively impaired persons.