The Paul Taylor Podcast
Wisdom Wednesdays: The Powerful Effects of Both Daytime and Evening Light Exposure on Mood and a range of Psychiatric Disorders
Oct 31, 2023
Exploring the effects of daytime and evening light exposure on mood and psychiatric disorders. A study found that increased light exposure during the day was associated with a lower risk of certain disorders, while increased light exposure during the night was linked to a higher risk of other disorders. Spending time in natural light during the day is important for improved mental health and healthy circadian rhythms.
10:42
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Increased daytime light exposure is associated with lower risk of self-harm, psychosis, PTSD, and major depressive disorder.
- Increased nighttime light exposure is linked to higher risk of generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, self-harm, and psychosis.
Deep dives
Impact of Light Exposure on Mental Health
A study published in the journal Nature Mental Health analyzed the association between light exposure patterns during the day and night and the risk of psychiatric disorders. The researchers used light exposure data from over 86,000 individuals and found that increased light exposure during the day was associated with a lower risk of self-harm, psychosis, PTSD, and major depressive disorder. On the other hand, increased light exposure at night was linked to a higher risk of generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, self-harm, and psychosis. These associations were consistent even after considering various factors such as physical activity levels, sleep quality, and socio-demographic factors.
