Human-centric lighting reduces drug reliance at Danish psychiatric hospital

Professional staff at a Danish psychiatric hospital have administered fewer drugs and noticed a marked reduction in patient outbursts and disturbances following the installation of a human-centric lighting (HCL) system that tunes brightness and color temperatures to a pattern conducive with daytime stimulation and nighttime rest.

Doctors, nurses, psychologists, therapists, and others surveyed at the Aabenraa Psychiatric Hospital also said that the HCL system has fostered a calmer, cozier atmosphere that has improved sleep both for patients and for staff.

Aabenraa installed the Ergonomic Circadian Lighting system, from Aarhus, Denmark-based Chromaviso, in September 2015, coinciding with the opening of Aabenraa's new 118,000-ft2, 116-bedroom facility. The Aabenraa deployment is part of an initiative by the Region of Southern Denmark — one of the country's five administrative regions — to use human-centric lighting at psychiatric facilities.