Brief Report

Light therapy in the clinical management of an eating-disordered adolescent with winter exacerbation

  1. Jennifer Brenner Ash1,2,*,
  2. Eugene Piazza2,3,
  3. Janis L. Anderson4

Article first published online: 6 DEC 1998

DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199801)23:1<93::AID-EAT12>3.0.CO;2-O

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 23, Issue 1, pages 93–97, January 1998

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ash, J. B., Piazza, E. and Anderson, J. L. (1998), Light therapy in the clinical management of an eating-disordered adolescent with winter exacerbation. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 23: 93–97. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199801)23:1<93::AID-EAT12>3.0.CO;2-O

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Clinical Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02115

  2. 2

    Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston, MA 02115

  3. 3

    Eating Disorders Program, Harvard Medical School

  4. 4

    Seasonal Affective Disorders Clinic, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Assistant Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School

*Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 DEC 1998
  2. Article first published online: 6 DEC 1998
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 21 OCT 1997

Funded by

  • Nancy Rollins Anorexia Nervosa Research Fund

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Keywords:

  • winter months;
  • bright light therapy;
  • Beck Depression Inventory

Abstract

A 17-year-old female followed for atypical eating disorder characterized by restriction was noted to worsen medically during winter months in each of 2 consecutive years. A trial of bright light therapy was initiated during the second admission. Within days of light treatment, the patient showed signs of clinical improvement in mood and eating. Within 1 month of light treatment, the patient's depression ratings decreased from a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score of 37 (severe) to 17 (mild/moderate). In addition, her eating improved moderately as revealed both by a slight decrease in Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) score (78 to 64) and by significant improvements in dietary intake and medical status. The present report suggests that light therapy may be a useful adjunct in the clinical management of eating-disordered youth who present with seasonal patterns of exacerbation. Controlled studies of light treatment in younger eating disorder populations are warranted. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int. J Eat Dis, 23, 93–97, 1998.

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