Bright light treatment improves sleep in institutionalised elderly - an open trial

Study Objectives This study evaluates the effects of bright light therapy among demented nursing home patients with sleep disturbances. Design and setting 11 nursing patients with actigraphically measured sleep efficiency below 85% took part in an open, non-randomised study where the subjects served as their own control. Intervention After two weeks of baseline measurements and two weeks of pretreatment measurements, patients received bright light exposure 2 h/day within the period 08:00-11:00 for two weeks. Measurements and Results Sleep-wake patterns during the 24-h day were evaluated by nursing staff ratings and wrist-worn motor activity devices (actigraphs). Sleep improved substantially with bright light exposure. Waking time within nocturnal sleep was reduced by nearly two h, and sleep efficiency improved from 73% to 86%. Corresponding improvements staff ratings. Effects were consistent across subjects. Conclusions The findings add further evidence of the effectiveness of morning bright light exposure in the treatment of disturbed sleep among demented nursing home patients. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.