Daily Morning Blue Light Therapy Improves Daytime Sleepiness, Sleep Quality, and Quality of Life Following a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Authors

• Adam C. Raikes, The Center for Innovation in Brain Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson (Dr Raikes); Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN) Lab, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson (Drs Dailey, Shane, and Killgore and Ms Forbeck); and Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson (Dr Alkozei).
• Natalie S. Dailey
• Bradley R. ShaneFollow
• Brittany Forbeck
• Anna Alkozei
• William D. Killgore

Document Type

Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Identify the treatment effects of 6 weeks of daily 30-minute sessions of morning blue light therapy compared with placebo amber light therapy in the treatment of sleep disruption following mild traumatic brain injury. DESIGN: Placebo-controlled randomized trial. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 18 to 45 years with a mild traumatic brain injury within the past 18 months (n = 35). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Beck Depression Inventory II, Rivermead Post-concussion Symptom Questionnaire, Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, and actigraphy-derived sleep measures. RESULTS: Following treatment, moderate to large improvements were observed with individuals in the blue light therapy group reporting lower Epworth Sleepiness Scale (Hedges' g = 0.882), Beck Depression Inventory II (g = 0.684), Rivermead Post-concussion Symptom Questionnaire chronic (g = 0.611), and somatic (g = 0.597) symptoms, and experiencing lower normalized wake after sleep onset (g = 0.667) than those in the amber light therapy group. In addition, individuals in the blue light therapy group experienced greater total sleep time (g = 0.529) and reported improved Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire scores (g = 0.929) than those in the amber light therapy group. CONCLUSION: Daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and sleep disruption are common following a mild traumatic brain injury. These findings further substantiate blue light therapy as a promising nonpharmacological approach to improve these sleep-related complaints with the added benefit of improved postconcussion symptoms and depression severity.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Brain Concussion (complications, diagnosis, therapy); Disorders of Excessive Somnolence (diagnosis, etiology, therapy); Humans; Phototherapy; Quality of Life; Sleep

Publication Date

1-1-2020

Publication Title

The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation

E-ISSN

1550-509X

Volume

35

Issue

5

First Page

E405

Last Page

E421

PubMed ID

32472836

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1097/HTR.0000000000000579

Recommended Citation

Raikes, Adam C.; Dailey, Natalie S.; Shane, Bradley R.; Forbeck, Brittany; Alkozei, Anna; and Killgore, William D., "Daily Morning Blue Light Therapy Improves Daytime Sleepiness, Sleep Quality, and Quality of Life Following a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury" (2020). Neurology. 2100.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurology/2100