Instructions
The following instructions should be followed by people with:
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Bipolar disorder manic episode
Start using Chrono Chrome's glasses at 6pm. Keep the glasses on until the lights are turned off. That will help your mind and body to settle down for the night. Keep your bedroom as dark as possible.
If you wake up before 8am, put the glasses on immediately and always before the lights are turned on. At 8am the glasses must be taken off, otherwise your biological day will be delayed.
For fast recovery it is of highest importance to follow this routine until you are out of the manic episode. Irregular use during an episode may cause your circadian rhythms to desynchronize and may throw you back into mania within a day. If this happens, just resume the 6pm - 8am schedule again.
As the manic symptoms subside, depressive symptoms may emerge or become more evident. Patient experiences support the use of virtual darkness eyewear for relieving anxiety even in depressed mode, but the start time should be delayed to 8-9pm to avoid state inappropriate deactivation. (Depressed persons do not need to be deactivated).
Do not stop taking your medication
For the following reasons we strongly warn against stopping to take prescribed medication:
Clinical studies on long term use and use during depression are non-existing as of yet. The randomized controlled study on mania had an ad-on design (in addition to medication), and the effect of the virtual darkness eyewear is dependent on the day-to-day use. Pharmacological mood stabilizers act over longer periods of time even if you sometimes forget to take the medication. This way the combination of medication and virtual darkness therapy adds safety and predictability to the efficiency of this novel treatment option.
Use of Chrono Chrome's glasses should be discussed with and monitored by the therapist or doctor responsible for the treatment.
Side effects, adverse events or injuries related to the use of Chrono Chrome's glasses should be reported to your doctor and info@chronochrome.com without delay.