Chromotherapy's Effectiveness in Treating Depression
Abstract
Depression is a mental health disorder that has affected millions worldwide, causing immense impairment in one's quality of life. Most patients cannot be effectively treated with conventional treatments like pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Thus, complementary therapies like chromotherapy hold promise as an alternative or adjunctive approach. The following review summarizes the results of recent research into the effectiveness of chromotherapy in treating depression, describing its mechanisms, effectiveness in diverse populations, and benefits when combined with other therapies. Besides promising results, large-scale studies are necessary to standardize protocols and confirm efficacy for a longer period.
Keywords
Chromotherapy, Depression, Complementary Therapies, Light Therapy
References
- 1. World Health Organization (WHO). Depressive disorder (depression). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression (Accessed: 02 November 2024).
- 2. Golden RN, Gaynes BN, Ekstrom RD, et al. The Efficacy of Light Therapy in the Treatment of Mood Disorders: A Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 2005;162(4):656-62.
- 3. Azeemi STY, Raza M. A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution. Evid Based Complement Altern Med. 2005;2(4):481-8.
- 4. Brainard GC. The Biological and Therapeutic Effects of Light. Azimuth. 1998;1:247-81.
- 5. Azeemi STY, Rafiq HM, Ismail I, Kazmi SR, Azeemi A. The Mechanistic Basis of Chromotherapy: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Complement Ther Med. 2019;46:217-22.
- 6. PubMed®. National Library of Medicine. The United States National Library of Medicine (NLM). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
- 7. Google Scholar. GOOGLE, Alphabet Inc. https://scholar.google.com.tr (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
- 8. Cochrane Library: Cochrane reviews. Wiley. https://www.cochranelibrary.com
- 9. Web of Science™. Clarivate. https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/basic-search (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
- 10. Femila P. Effectiveness of Chromotherapy on Level of Depression among Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Int J Oncol Nurs. 2018;4(1):17-9.
