Bright Light Therapy for Depression Symptoms in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and COPD

Effect of Bright Light Therapy on Depression Symptoms in Adult Inpatients With Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

This is a project that will determine whether the use of daily bright light therapy has an effect on depressive symptoms experienced by adult inpatients with CF and COPD. The purpose of this project is to apply a daily 30-minute BLT intervention to hospitalized adult CF and COPD patients in order to decrease symptoms of depression as measured by depression inventory scoring.

This project will occur on a 29-bed pulmonary step-down unit at a 1,600-bed academic medical center. This unit commonly treats patients with CF, COPD, and other pulmonary complications. The unit's patient care staff will be educated on the bright light lamps in order to prevent interruptions and to encourage compliance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Adult age 18 or older
• Admitted to the pulmonary step-down and transplant unit
• Score greater than zero on pre-intervention Beck's Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pre-existing ophthalmological conditions or photosensitivity
• Migraines
• Receiving high dose steroids for transplant rejection (due to mood altering qualities),
• Antibiotics that increase light sensitivity
• Diagnosed with bipolar disorder (light therapy may trigger mania)
• Admissions anticipated to span less than 48 hours
• Children are being excluded due to the fact that only adult CF and COPD subjects are admitted to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Presbyterian hospital