[Therapeutic sleep deprivation and phototherapy].

About 60% of depressed patients experience improvement after a single night of total or partial sleep deprivation.

• Therapeutic sleep deprivation may lead to rapid, though often short-lasting, mood improvements in most patients with major depressive disorder.
• Combining sleep deprivation with antidepressant medication could enhance treatment effectiveness compared to medication alone.
• Repeated sleep deprivation may serve as an effective strategy for treating drug-resistant depression.
• Light therapy using bright artificial light may particularly benefit patients with seasonal patterns of depressive symptoms.
• Similar to sleep deprivation, bright light therapy shows a quick onset of antidepressant effects and can enhance the effects of medication.
• Starting bright light therapy in the morning after partial sleep deprivation may help prevent depressive relapse in those who respond to sleep deprivation.

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