Light therapy continues to be an investigational treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet given clearance to market light boxes in the U.S. for the treatment of SAD nor does the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) cover the costs associated with using light therapy. Although, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), in guidelines published during 1993, provided light therapy a qualified recommendation under specific conditions.
Both the FDA and the AHCPR (see recommendations) state that light therapy should be administered to properly diagnosed patients (who have no psychotic disorder and who are not suicidal) under the guidance of an experienced and trained medical professional.
Studies available to date support reasonable beneficial effect of light therapy as a treatment of SAD, where light deprivation is believed to be the causal agent.
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