geoffrey modest medical blogs

  a recent meta-analysis found that using bright light therapy (BLT) as an adjunctive therapy is associated with decreased depression symptoms even in individuals without seasonal affective disorder (see depression bright light in nonseasonal JAMApsych2025  in dropbox, or doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.2871). thanks to Talya Salant for bringing this to my attention.   Details : --11 unique randomized controlled trials were found from 2000-2024 with 858 patients assessing the effect on depression response with vs without added BLT     -- 7 of these studies were in patients with major depressive disorder: one study of patients with severe MDD, most others had patients with moderate or severe depression; 3 had patients with bipolar disorder, and 1 had both     -- intervention group: 9 studies exposed the intervention group to 10,000 lux bright light therapy (BLT) for 30-60 minutes, one study used 7000 lux, and 1 study 2...

  Another article just came out suggesting a significant  clinical  role  for  the gut microbiota/brain interaction , this time for depression and anxiety . This small study found benefit in adding probiotics as adjunctive treatment for patients with insufficient response to antidepressant  med s (see  depression   probiotics jamapsych2023  in dropbox, or doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1817 )    Details : -- 49 patients with moderate major depressive disorder (MDD) on antidepressants but  having  incomplete response to the meds were randomized to probiotics versus placebo in this UK study, between 2019-2022. -- Patients were 18 to 55 years old, were taking an approved antidepressant at a stable dose for at least six weeks, and did not have bipolar disorder, psychosis, eating disorders, personality disorders, substance dependence, suicidal ideation, serious medical illnesses, were taking gastrointestinal medications, ...