“Depressive symptoms are common among cancer survivors even years after treatment has ended,” said lead author Heiddis Valdimarsdottir, PhD, associate professor of oncological sciences at Icahn. “This interferes with overall quality of life and puts survivors at risk for poor outcomes including death.”
To combat the negative effects of depressive symptoms, the researchers involved in the study divided up 54 cancer survivors into two light therapy cohorts: a bright white light or a dim red light group. The participants were given a light box to use for 30 minutes every day for four weeks.
The results of the study showed an improvement in the depressive symptoms experienced by patients exposed to the bright light. Meanwhile, patients exposed to the dim red light experienced no change in symptoms.
“Our findings suggest light therapy, a rather non-invasive therapy, may provide an innovative way to decrease depression among cancer survivors,” said co-author of the study William Redd, PhD, professor of oncological sciences at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
More articles on depression and health:
Primary care physicians face challenges in managing depression, study finds
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Depression can contribute to complications and readmissions post-cancer surgery, study finds
