Always an interesting topic – but we thought much more could have been done with this story. (Yes, we know you can’t do all things with all stories, but this story has been told so many times that we look for an emphasis on what’s new or on broader context.)
The story does a credible job of explaining that physicians treat people diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with light to try to shift their biological clocks into a better rhythm. The discussion of actual clinical studies is disappointingly brief. We are not given any idea of how commonly light therapy is prescribed – only the unsubstantiated statement that “for the millions of Americans who suffer from mild to severe winter blues…bright-light therapy is the treatment of choice.”
Our reviewers included a science journalist who lives in the Pacific Northwest, where stories about SAD abound, and who has written about these treatments…and a Duke professor of medicine and psychiatry.
Millions of Americans suffer from depression (not necessarily the seasonal variety) and they take millions of dollars worth of antidepressant medications. Research on what is called chronobiology points to some effectiveness for light therapy on depressive disorders. This story could have delivered a deeper examination of drug vs. non-drug therapies. It stopped short of delivering that larger picture to the readers. The story does say that light therapy may “help” with depression, sleep disorders, dementia, bulimia, bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – but it does not provide much actual evidence about these wider implications.
Light sources for therapy cost about $200, the story explains. But it gives an incomplete picture by not factoring in follow up visits to a health provider when getting light therapy vs. receiving medication or psychotherapy. The story raises a very big issue, but does not provide evidence. Do patients need the same level of followup from a physician when getting light therapy as those treated with medication or psychotherapy? Does avoidance of drug side effects lead to additional overall cost savings to the health care system?
The story states “there is little profit to be made from it and no commercial incentive to promote the treatment.” At $200 per box online – and with “millions” using “bright-light therapy as the treatment of choice” – as the story claims – is there not some commercial incentive in those kinds of numbers?
This story did not provide any quantified detail about the results of using light therapy for seasonal affective disorder. It quoted two patients, anecdotally, about how much they believed they had been helped. It quoted the American Psychiatric Association as saying the therapy is “an effective low-risk treatment” for both seasonal and major depressive disorder. But it did not give any metric for how well the treatment works, or how quickly or for how long. How many patients getting light therapy get a little bit better? Much better? No better?
The story stated “Side effects include headaches and hypomania.” And it included the warning: “Using a light box is not as simple as it may appear. Experts recommend consulting with a knowledgeable health care provider.”
Another point the story could have raised is that a person with a disorder that does not respond to light may self-diagnose and fail to seek more effective therapy or advice.
The story tells readers about a 2006 “double-blind” study without naming the journal where it was published or the lead author. This is very selective reporting. There have been many trials and meta-analyses of these trials. The story could easily lead readers to conclude that there are few studies, when in fact there are many. Readers need that broader context in order to evaluate the qualitiy of the evidence.
In fact, another story by the same reporter in the same paper just 10 months ago noted “a new, carefully designed randomized controlled trial — of the kind considered the gold standard in medicine — suggests bright light therapy deserves a closer look.” Granted, it was a study in elderly patients with nonseasonal major depressive disorder, but it was still part of the much larger evidence base for light therapy that could have been referenced.
This story does not exaggerate the consequences of seasonal depression.
The story uses independent sources, but strangely does not quote anyone who participated in the single research study cited from 2006.
The story does mention the existing use of anti-depressant drugs for seasonal depression, but does not compare in detail the price or length of drug therapy vs. light therapy. This comparison would have been very helpful to consumers. Other alternatives – including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy or exercise – were not mentioned.
The story makes it clear how widely used are the light boxes and that they are sold online and available for rent.
The story doesn’t make any inappropriate claims about the novelty (or lack thereof) in light therapy.
The story quotes four different people – two patient and two researchers. It does not appear to rely on a news release.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
We’ve written about the hype of liquid biopsies for years (see link in comment below). And now this…. https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/12/medicare-shouldnt-cover-liquid-biopsies-early-cancer-detection/
Case counts still matter. “(There) are stories that may not be told adequately if only hospitalizations and deaths are emphasized.” @garyschwitzer interviewed by @dbauder of @AP. https://apnews.com/article/omicron-changing-news-outlets-covid-data-da9272f7c4c8a109c3bfb56bed9e9c76
My friend Gary @garyschwitzer wrote to his city council representative in a Minnesota town about a Viva Las Vegas event scheduled for January.
The response he got seems to perfectly capture where we are now.
https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2021/12/2021-ends-with-covid-craziness-in-sports-and-politics/
Comments (1)
Please note, comments are no longer published through this website. All previously made comments are still archived and available for viewing through select posts.
Richard J Kres
December 4, 2011 at 12:17 pmThank you very much for the review “A Portable Glow to Help Melt Those Winter Blues”. I agree with the contents. Moreover I like your way of reporting with scentences like: “Does the story use independent sources and identify conflicts of interest?”. I will use your way of reporting to improve my (our) way of reporting about the quality of the authoritys of the town Utrecht NL. Richard Kres, civil socity group http://www.stemmeninutrecht.nl.
Our Comments Policy
But before leaving a comment, please review these notes about our policy.
You are responsible for any comments you leave on this site.
This site is primarily a forum for discussion about the quality (or lack thereof) in journalism or other media messages (advertising, marketing, public relations, medical journals, etc.) It is not intended to be a forum for definitive discussions about medicine or science.
We will delete comments that include personal attacks, unfounded allegations, unverified claims, product pitches, profanity or any from anyone who does not list a full name and a functioning email address. We will also end any thread of repetitive comments. We don”t give medical advice so we won”t respond to questions asking for it.
We don”t have sufficient staffing to contact each commenter who left such a message. If you have a question about why your comment was edited or removed, you can email us at feedback@healthnewsreview.org.
There has been a recent burst of attention to troubles with many comments left on science and science news/communication websites. Read “Online science comments: trolls, trash and treasure.”
The authors of the Retraction Watch comments policy urge commenters:
We”re also concerned about anonymous comments. We ask that all commenters leave their full name and provide an actual email address in case we feel we need to contact them. We may delete any comment left by someone who does not leave their name and a legitimate email address.
And, as noted, product pitches of any sort – pushing treatments, tests, products, procedures, physicians, medical centers, books, websites – are likely to be deleted. We don”t accept advertising on this site and are not going to give it away free.
The ability to leave comments expires after a certain period of time. So you may find that you’re unable to leave a comment on an article that is more than a few months old.