[Light therapy for depression].

Artificial light has been used as a treatment for depression since the 1980s. The indications have since broadened from seasonal depression to non-seasonal depression including bipolar, geriatric, and chronic depression. Light acts through retinohypothalamic connections from specialised retinal neurons to central nuclei involved in circadian and emotional regulation. This review illuminates the current strategies directed towards utilising natural daylight or electric lighting mimicking the dynamic spectrum and intensity of daylight to improve treatment in modern hospital settings.

[Bipolar depression, a challenge diagnostic and treatmentwise].

This narrative review addresses the challenges of how to identify and treat bipolar depression. Bipolar depression, i.e. depressive episode(s) as part of bipolar disorder, can be differentiated from unipolar depression only through the previous course of illness. A correct diagnosis therefore may be delayed. The pharmacotherapy of bipolar depression differs from that of unipolar depression due to a high risk of recurrence of either hypomanic/manic or depressive episodes or mood instability. Therefore, long periods of specialized treatment will often be required. Both bipolar and unipolar depression will often benefit from adjunctive social and psychological interventions.