Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42618873›Full record

ArticleAcademic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry2026

Bright Light Therapy for Psychiatry Residents: A Pilot Study of Feasibility and Perceived Impact on Wellbeing.

Darren Sanders, Lauren Medlin, Danielle Lowe, Sahar Sabet, William Scheidler, Jimmy Chen

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Article in Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Darren SandersUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Lauren MedlinUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Danielle LoweUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Sahar SabetUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
William ScheidlerUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Jimmy ChenUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. jimmy_chen@med.unc.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveResident physicians often experience circadian rhythm disruptions due to long work hours and limited sunlight exposure, contributing to mood changes, fatigue, and reduced wellbeing. The objective of this study was to examine psychiatry residents' attitudes toward bright light therapy (BLT) in clinical workspaces and evaluate perceived impact on wellbeing.

methodsFrom February 17 to May 19, 2025, 10,000 lx BLT boxes were placed in psychiatry resident workspaces at the University of North Carolina. Seventy-seven residents (post graduate year (PGY)1-5, consult liaison fellows, and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows) were eligible. Residents received instructions on BLT use, benefits, and risks, and were asked to log daily use anonymously. At the end of the study, usage logs and anonymous survey responses were collected to assess satisfaction, wellbeing impact, and suggestions.

resultsTwenty-two residents participated, with 11 completing the post-study survey. Among those surveyed, 90% reported improved wellbeing and 90% were "mostly" or "very satisfied" with the intervention. Residents cited improved morning alertness, enhanced mood in dim environments, and ease of use as benefits. Common concerns included limited access and the light not fully replacing natural sunlight. Several expressed interest in continued use.

conclusionsBLT was well received and perceived as beneficial. This pilot study suggests that BLT is a feasible, low-barrier intervention that may support resident wellness. Future directions include broader implementation, extended use periods, and integration with mental health screening tools.

Indexed as

Bright light therapyCircadian rhythmsMedical educationResident wellness

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.