Dark Therapy
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Re the use of darkness as a meditation or contemplative aid, see Darkness therapy (disambiguation).
This treatment is obviously closely related to sleep hygiene.
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[edit] Bipolar Disorder Treatment
An experimental treatment for bipolar disorder (was manic depression), depression, and more. Early pilot studies applied it as a mood stabilizer for acute bipolar episodes, using 14 hours of darkness per day. [[1]].
[edit] Other Conditions
Dark Therapy has also been tried (in combination with bright light therapy, etc) for other conditions where seasonal exacerbation of symptoms in notable, such as nocturnal asthma, and associated depression, cluster headaches, dyssomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. [[2]]
Dark Therapy has also been suggested for conditions known to be strongly affected by sleep duration, such as diabetes and heart conditions, but no trials for these illnesses are known. A single anecdotal report of success applying dark therapy to symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic collagen disorder, has also been reported but is wholly unsubstantiated.
[edit] Side Effects
No side effects have been officially reported for Dark Therapy, unsurprising since humans evolved experiencing long, darker days such as dark therapy employs. However, wholly unsubstantiated anecdotal reports exist of drugs for other conditions causing the equivalent of overdoses during Dark Therapy; perhaps because exposure to more darkness made those agents less necessary - e.g., acute anemia in a patient with Haemochromatosis (iron accumulation to the point of toxicity) who was also being treated with drugs to remove iron.[1] It has also been speculated that Dark Therapy or prolonged exposure to darkness could make Serotonin Poisoning more likely in some circumstances, particularly in patients who are also taking anti-depressants which boost Serotonin, since Serotonin has a diurnal (daily) cycle.
[edit] Conditions
Dark Therapy involves very thorough conditions of complete darkness, without even small amounts of artificial light, say from LEDS or under doorways. Consistent times, and no interruption of darkness during the night are also considered to be important, consistent with research in chronobiology.
[edit] Summary
Very little research, of small reliability, exists in this area.
[edit] Sources
Dark therapy for mania: a pilot study. Bipolar Disord. 2005 Feb;7(1):98-101. PMID: 15654938 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
"Dark therapy for mania: a pilot study." Bipolar Disorders Volume 7 Page 98 - February 2005 doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2004.00166.x Volume 7 Issue 1
PhotoperiodEffect.com
