---
title: Does a single bright light therapy session improve mood in women with PMS?
description: A single 30-minute bright light session reduced negative mood in women not using hormonal birth control, but had no effect in women using contraceptives. This
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-mood-and-empathy-after-a-single-light-therapy-session-2017/
---

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- Does a single bright light therapy session improve mood in women with PMS?

Randomised trial, 2017

# Does a single bright light therapy session improve mood in women with PMS?

A single 30-minute bright light session reduced negative mood in women not using hormonal birth control, but had no effect in women using contraceptives. This was a small study testing only one session.

 Moderate study design

48 premenstrual women, 17 with moderate-to-severe PMS/PMDD

## What they did

Randomized controlled trial. 48 premenstrual women, including 17 with moderate-to-severe PMS/PMDD, were randomly assigned to 30 minutes of bright light therapy (5,000 lux; 23 women) or sham light (200 lux; 25 women). Mood and empathy were measured before, immediately after, and 60 minutes after the session.

## What they found

Bright light reduced negative mood, but only in women not using hormonal contraceptives. Women using birth control showed no mood improvement from the light. Light therapy did not affect cognitive empathy in either group.

## What it means for you

A single bright light session may reduce negative mood in women with PMS who are not using hormonal birth control. The main limitation is that only one short session was tested. Results may not apply to repeated light therapy or to women on contraceptives.

48

women in study

30 minutes

duration of bright light

17

women with moderate-to-severe PMS/PMDD

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual mood and empathy after a single light therapy session Authors Aan Het Rot M, Miloserdov K, Buijze ALF et al. Journal Psychiatry research Year 2017 Study design Randomised trial Participants 48 What was tested 30-minute bright light therapy session (5,000 lux, blue-enriched light) versus sham light Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.06.052](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.06.052)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Light therapy and sleep deprivation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-light-therapy/)

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