Basic Types

Bright Light Therapy:
The administration of correctly timed, properly dosed, high-intensity fluorescent light to treat various forms of depression.

Wake Therapy (Sleep Restriction):
The use of prolonged periods of wakefulness, with intervening periods of recovery sleep, to induce rapid improvement in depressive symptoms.

Sleep Phase Advance:
Moves the time of sleep forward to the early evening to potentiate the action of other antidepressant interventions.

Triple Chronotherapy:
The combined use of Wake and bright light therapies along with sleep phase advance to generate a fast and sustained antidepressant response.

Dawn Simulation:
Use of a progressive illumination signal, administered during the end of sleep, to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Chronobiotics:
Circadian rhythm-modifying compounds such as melatonin and certain psychiatric medications, that treat depression and sleep disorders.

Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy:
A problem-solving therapy that increases the routine of one's everyday activities to improve mood stability in bipolar disorder.