Light Therapy for Bulimia

Family Pratice News,  Feb 1, 2000  

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Winter bingeing by women with bulimia nervosa was reduced significantly more by bright light therapy (10,000 lux) than by control therapy using dim red light (50 lux).

After 3 weeks, weekly binge frequency decreased from 6.7 to 4.3 among 16 women exposed to bright light for a half hour each morning at home. The rate decreased from 4.9 to 3.9 among 18 women exposed to dim light (Compr. Psychiatry 40[6]:442-48, 1999).

Scores on the Beck Depression Inventory improved in both groups; bright light was not significantly better in this regard, said Dr. Devra L. Braun of Cornell University Medical Center, White Plains, N.Y., and her associates.

COPYRIGHT 2000 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group