Is bright light therapy effective for PPD?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Bright light therapy has been well studied for both seasonal and non-seasonal depression. It’s a very safe therapy for most people, including pregnant people, although it risks triggering mania in people with bipolar disorder (diagnosed or not). The few small studies of prenatal and postnatal bright light therapy suggest efficacy for PPD. People trying light therapy for PPD should, however, be monitored for symptoms of mania.[1]

    References

    1. ^Deligiannidis KM, Freeman MPComplementary and alternative medicine therapies for perinatal depression.Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol.(2014-Jan)