---
title: Does bright light therapy help PMDD symptoms like depression and tension?
description: Yes, 30 minutes of bright white light each evening during the luteal phase significantly reduced depression and premenstrual tension, while dim red light did
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-controlled-study-of-light-therapy-in-women-with-late-luteal-phase-dysphoric-1999/
---

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- Does bright light therapy help PMDD symptoms like depression and tension?

Randomised trial, 1999

# Does bright light therapy help PMDD symptoms like depression and tension?

Yes, 30 minutes of bright white light each evening during the luteal phase significantly reduced depression and premenstrual tension, while dim red light did not.

 Moderate study design

14 women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder

## What they did

14 women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) first tracked their symptoms for 2 menstrual cycles. They then completed 4 more cycles of treatment with each woman trying both treatments at different times (a crossover design). During the luteal phase of each treatment cycle, women received 30 minutes of bright white light or dim red light each evening at home using a light box.

## What they found

The bright white light condition significantly reduced depression and premenstrual tension scores compared to baseline. The dim red light condition did not produce these improvements.

## What it means for you

Bright light therapy during the luteal phase may help reduce PMDD depression and tension. The study used a rigorous crossover design, but included only 14 women.

14

women with LLPDD

30

minutes of light per evening

10,000 lux

brightness of active light

## About the study

Original title A controlled study of light therapy in women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder Authors Lam RW, Carter D, Misri S et al. Journal Psychiatry research Year 1999 Study design Randomised trial What was tested 30 minutes of bright white light (10,000 lux) or dim red light (500 lux) each evening during luteal phase, crossover design Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(99)00043-8](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(99)00043-8)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Light therapy and sleep deprivation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-light-therapy/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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