Bright light therapy can have significant effects on sleep disturbances associated with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Bright light therapy was also shown to produce a moderate improvement in PTSD symptoms and depression.
A study looked 16 soldiers with combat-related PTSD. Eight of the soldiers received 10,000 lux of bright light therapy for 30 minutes each day. The other eight participants were assigned to a placebo group and received sham treatment with an inactivated negative ion generator.
According to Eurekalert:
“Bright light therapy exposes your eyes to intense but safe amounts of light for a specific and regular length of time. Typically it involves exposure to up to 10,000 lux of light for scheduled periods of 20 minutes or more using a small light box.”
