Clinical operational guidelines for light therapy for depression

Clinical practice guidelines for bright light therapy (BLT) in the treatment of depression has been officially released, led by Chinese Society of Neuroscience and Psychiatry (CSNP). Following evidence-based guideline development procedures, the guideline team conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials from Chinese and English databases. Evidence was graded using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) system, and recommendations were formulated through the Delphi method and expert panel consensus, aiming to promote the standardized clinical application of BLT for depression. This guideline provides recommendations on nine core clinical questions, defining the indications for BLT, including seasonal affective disorder (Level 1a evidence), non-seasonal major depressive disorder (Level 1a evidence), perinatal depression (Level 1b evidence), and depression with evening chronotype (Level 1b evidence). The standard protocol involves daily morning exposure to 10000 lux white light for 30 minutes, with circadian rhythm regulation as its primary mechanism. The guideline indicates that BLT has a favorable safety profile, with mild and transient adverse effects, though caution is advised regarding the potential risk of manic switching in patients with bipolar disorder. Furthermore, the article details standardized operational procedures, device selection, efficacy assessment metrics, and quality control measures. It concludes that BLT is a safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention, providing clinicians with an evidence-based practical framework to guide clinical decision-making and promote standardize implementation.