Human research · meta-analysis
Saleh Moussa R et al., BMJ Open 2026
A systematic review and meta-analysis of bright light therapy (BLT) to prevent delirium in hospitalised adults (8 studies, 1190 participants, mostly intensive care) found an uncertain effect: pooled risk ratio 0.64 (95% CI 0.38 to 1.07), which includes no effect, with very low certainty (GRADE). The largest trial (734 ICU patients, ceiling lighting) found no reduction; a benefit appeared only when that trial was excluded, which is a sensitivity analysis, not the main result.
Source: Bright light therapy and circadian rhythm regulation for delirium prevention in hospitalised adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Saleh Moussa R, Edwards LM, Chang S, Hosie A, Kinchin I, Caplan G, Wiley J, Gilmore I, Yenson V, Amgarth-Duff I, Rao-Newton A, Campbell K, Goldman M, Offner K, Agar M. BMJ Open. 2026;16(9):e116709. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2026-116709. PMID:42805655. PMCID:PMC13629984. Published 2026-09-28. Full text read (PMC)
Verified research card EL-20261018-09-R1