PsychPearls by Psychiatric Times cover image

PsychPearls by Psychiatric Times

59: Blue Light Blockers: A Behavior Therapy for Mania

Oct 7, 2021
Learn about the negative effects of evening light on mood and sleep, and how blue light filtering glasses can help. Explore the use of blue light blockers as a therapy for mania and bipolar disorder, and discover the benefits of dark therapy for managing mania. Find out how to create a dark bedroom and troubleshoot common issues.
18:29

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Quick takeaways

  • Blue light filtering glasses have been found effective in stabilizing circadian rhythms that regulate mood and sleep.
  • Dark therapy using blue light filters has shown positive effects on sleep quality and duration, making it beneficial for patients with insomnia.

Deep dives

Using Blue Light Filters to Stabilize Circadian Rhythms

Blue light, particularly the blue wavelength, suppresses melatonin and worsens sleep and circadian rhythms in individuals with mood disorders. To address this issue, blue light filtering glasses have been found effective in stabilizing circadian rhythms that regulate mood and sleep. These glasses filter out close to 100% of blue light, allowing melatonin levels to rise and imitate the effect of pitch darkness. Specific models like UVX glasses and those from lowbluelights.com have been used in clinical research and have shown promising results in improving sleep and cognitive performance.

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