THE EFFECT OF ADJUNCTIVE LIGHT THERAPY ON AMELIORATING BREAKTHROUGH DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENT-ONSET BIPOLAR DISORDER

Seven adolescents or young adults (aged 16 to 22 years) who met DSM-II I-R criteria for bipolar disorder were treated for persistent depressi ve symptoms (greater than three weeks) with adjunctive light therapy ( 10,000 lux given twice per day). Patients were evaluated using the Bec k Depression Inventory (BDI) and Symptoms Check List (SCL-58), Three p atients showed a marked response of greater than 70% decrease of their baseline score. Two patients had a moderate decrease (40% to 74%) and two patients obtained mild to no response. There were no reported sid e-effects, Paired t-tests done on pre- and post-BDI scores (pre mean = 21.2 sd +/- 10.0; post mean = 11.1, sd +/- 8.8; paired t = 4.31; p > 0.0051) and pre- and post-SCL-58 scores above baseline of 58 (pre mean = 57.4, sd +/- 24.4; post mean = 28.7, sd +/- 18.6; paired t = 5.50; p > 0.0015) showed significant improvement. These preliminary results indicate that some bipolar adolescents with breakthrough depressive sy mptoms could benefit from light therapy as an adjunct to their continu ed thymoleptic treatment.