CUHK-HKU Study Proves Bright Light Therapy as an Adjunctive Treatment Improves Outcomes in Depressed “Night Owl” Patients

Depression is among the most common mental health problems. About 1 in 10 adults in Hong Kong suffer from depressive symptoms. There is growing research suggesting a close relationship between mood disorders and the biological clock. “Night owls”, refers those who are late to bed and late to rise, are at greater risk of poor clinical outcomes with more sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms. The Department of Psychiatry of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine), in collaboration with the Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), have conducted the world’s first randomised controlled trial of adjunctive bright light therapy for “night owls” with depression. Results showed bright light therapy doubles the probability of achieving remission, and the cumulative remission rate of depression reaches 67.4%.     MORE

(From left) Dr. Shirley Li, Assistant Professor of the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences at HKU; Professor Yun Kwok WING, Chairman and Dr. Joey Wing Yan CHAN, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychiatry at CU Medicine.