Light, circadian rhythms, and psychiatric treatment in mood disorders

Dr Fitton studied how light exposure and the body clock’s response to light are linked to wellbeing and treatment in mood disorders. The research revealed that everyday light exposure is associated with mood symptoms, and that adjusting home lighting can improve treatment outcomes for people taking antidepressant medication. She also showed that the body clock is more sensitive to light in bipolar disorder, and that this can be altered by medication. Together, her project highlights that light, and the way the body clock responds to light, plays a vital and modifiable role in mood disorders, opening new possibilities for treatment.