Dark therapy

This article is about the medical uses for the absence of light. For the Echobelly song, see Dark Therapy (song).

Dark therapy is the practice of keeping people in complete darkness for extended periods of time in an attempt to treat psychological conditions. The human body produces the melatonin hormone, which is responsible for supporting the circadian rhythms. Darkness seems to help keep these circadian rhythms stable.[1]

Dark therapy was said to be founded by a German anthropologist by the name of Holger Kalweit.[2] A form of dark therapy is to block blue wavelength lights to stop the disintegration of melatonin.[3]

This dark therapy concept was originated back in 1998 from a research which suggested that systematic exposure to darkness might alter people's mood.[4] Original studies enforced 14 hours of darkness to bipolar patients for three nights straight. This study showed a decrease of manic episodes in the patients.[5] Participation in this study became unrealistic, as patients did not want to participate in treatment of total darkness from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.[6] More recently, with the discovery of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, it has been hypothesized that similar results could be achieved by blocking blue light, as a potential treatment for bipolar disorder.[7][8] Moreover, researchers exploring blue-blocking glasses have so far considered dark therapy only as an add-on treatment to be used together with psychotherapy, rather than a replacement for other therapies.[9]

Another study consisting of healthy females and males suggested that a single exposure to blue light after being kept in a dim setting could reduce sleepiness.[10] Contrary to the original claim that decreasing the amount of blue light could help with insomnia, this study suggested improvement with blue light exposure.

  1. ^ Phelps, James (2008-01-01). "Dark therapy for bipolar disorder using amber lenses for blue light blockade". Medical Hypotheses. 70 (2): 224–229. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2007.05.026. ISSN 0306-9877. PMID 17637502.
  2. ^ Childs, Morgan (2018-07-06). "A Week of Darkness, for Your Health". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  3. ^ "Dark Therapy". PsychEducation. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2019-04-28. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  4. ^ Phelps J (2016). "A powerful non-pharmacologic treatment for mania - virtually". Bipolar Disord (Commentary). 18 (4): 379–82. doi:10.1111/bdi.12393. PMID 27218661.
  5. ^ Barbini, Barbara; Benedetti, Francesco; Colombo, Cristina; Dotoli, Danilo; Bernasconi, Alessandro; Cigala‐Fulgosi, Mara; Florita, Marcello; Smeraldi, Enrico (2005). "Dark therapy for mania: a pilot study". Bipolar Disorders. 7 (1): 98–101. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2004.00166.x. ISSN 1399-5618. PMID 15654938.
  6. ^ Phelps, James (2008-01-01). "Dark therapy for bipolar disorder using amber lenses for blue light blockade". Medical Hypotheses. 70 (2): 224–229. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2007.05.026. ISSN 0306-9877. PMID 17637502.
  7. ^ Henriksen, Tone; Skrede, Silje; Ole, Fasmer; Schoeyen, Helle; Leskauskaite, Ieva; Bjørke‐Bertheussen, Jeanette; Assmus, Jörg; Hamre, Børge; Grønli, Janne; Lund, Anders (26 May 2016). "Blue‐blocking glasses as additive treatment for mania: a randomized placebo‐controlled trial". Bipolar Disorders. 18 (3): 221–232. doi:10.1111/bdi.12390. PMC 5089565. PMID 27226262.
  8. ^ Barbini, B (2005). "Dark Therapy for Mania: a pilot study". Bipolar Disorders. 7 (1): 98–101. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2004.00166.x. PMID 15654938.
  9. ^ Henriksen, Tone; Skrede, Silje; Ole, Fasmer; Schoeyen, Helle; Leskauskaite, Ieva; Bjørke‐Bertheussen, Jeanette; Assmus, Jörg; Hamre, Børge; Grønli, Janne; Lund, Anders (26 May 2016). "Blue‐blocking glasses as additive treatment for mania: a randomized placebo‐controlled trial". Bipolar Disorders. 18 (3): 221–232. doi:10.1111/bdi.12390. PMC 5089565. PMID 27226262.
  10. ^ Franke, L.; Sülflow, D.; Stark, K.; Piazena, H.; Uebelhack, R. (2009-01-01). "P03-246 Acute effect of blue light exposition on well-being and melatonin secretion in humans". European Psychiatry. 17th EPA Congress - Lisbon, Portugal, January 2009, Abstract book. 24: S1245. doi:10.1016/S0924-9338(09)71478-6. ISSN 0924-9338. S2CID 144027952.