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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

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01-04-2016 | Short Communication

Increased daylight availability reduces length of hospitalisation in depressive patients

Authors: Francesca Canellas, Luisa Mestre, Miriam Belber, Guillem Frontera, Mary Angeles Rey, Ruben Rial

Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Issue 3/2016

Abstract

In a retrospective study, hospital stay in two hospitals was compared for depressive patients. The mean amount of accumulated light impinging the patient’s area was 86,145 lux/light period in Hospital Universitari Son Dureta and 258,909 lux/light period in Hospital Universitari Son Espases (~300 % increase). The median stay was 14 days (1q–3q 8–19, n = 101) and 11 (1q–3q 6–15, n = 106) days, respectively. The reduction was significant only for the entire group, though not for subgroups (p < 0.007). Although the light received was not individually measured, results point to a significant effect of light in the recovery time of depressive patients. Prospective studies are needed.

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Title: Increased daylight availability reduces length of hospitalisation in depressive patients
Authors: Francesca Canellas
Luisa Mestre
Miriam Belber
Guillem Frontera
Mary Angeles Rey
Ruben Rial
Publication date: 01-04-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 0940-1334
Electronic ISSN: 1433-8491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-015-0601-5

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Increased daylight availability reduces length of hospitalisation in depressive patients

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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