225. A study on the influence of architectural lighting environment on the triggering of emotional and perceptual symptoms in patients with schizophrenia

Abstract Background Schizophrenia patients often experience mood regulation disorders and perceptual abnormalities, making them susceptible to symptoms such as auditory hallucinations and delusions triggered by environmental stimuli. Architectural lighting, as a core environmental element, can influence the neuroendocrine system through visual pathways via its wavelength and color temperature; however, empirical research on its correlation with patient symptoms is currently scarce in the field of psychiatric treatment. Clinically, patients frequently experience symptom fluctuations due to environmental discomfort, highlighting the urgent need to clarify the intervention value of lighting environments. This would provide a therapeutic basis for the spatial design of psychiatric wards, thereby assisting in optimizing non-pharmacological intervention systems for schizophrenia. Methods Sixty patients with acute schizophrenia were randomly divided into three groups: a warm white light group, a cool white light group, and a natural light group, with 20 patients in each group. The ambient light color parameters were kept stable during the intervention: 3000 K for warm white light and 6500 K for cool white light. The natural light group received primarily diffused daylight during sunny days. The intervention lasted for 8 hours daily for 4 weeks. Perceived symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and emotional state was assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Assessments were conducted one day before and one day after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 with repeated measures ANOVA. Results After intervention, the PANSS and SDS scores of the three groups of patients were significantly lower than before intervention (intra group comparison). The improvement effect of the warm white light group was significantly better than that of the cold white light group and the natural light group (inter group comparison), and all statistical comparisons were p<.05. Regarding the total PANSS score, the warm white light group decreased from (82.6 ± 7.3) to (51.2 ± 6.8), the cool white light group from (81.9 ± 7.5) to (63.5 ± 7.1), and the natural light group from (83.1 ± 6.9) to (60.3 ± 6.5). In terms of SDS score, the warm white light group decreased from (62.4 ± 5.8) to (41.3 ± 5.2), significantly better than the other two groups. This indicates that the warm white light group was most effective in alleviating perceptual symptoms and negative emotions, while the cool white light group showed the weakest improvement. Discussion Experimental results show that the wavelength and color temperature of warm white light are more in line with the neurophysiological needs of patients. It can regulate the emotional center by inhibiting melatonin secretion and reduce the sensitivity to perceptual abnormalities. Future research can focus on the individualized adaptation of light and color parameters, explore the mechanism of action by combining electroencephalographic indicators, and conduct long-term follow-up to clarify the impact of light and color environment on relapse rate, providing a more precise basis for constructing "therapeutic architectural spaces.".