(HealthDayNews) -- How often have you seen horror movies where the madman is sitting alone in a darkened room? The darkness does seem to offer an extra bit of interest to the scene. But you always thought it was just the director's way of showing that the character was unhappy.
According to Acta Psychitrica Scandinavica that darkness isn't just artistic license: People with some types of emotional disorders really do prefer to sit in the dark -- only it isn't dark to them.
When people with severe panic disorders were tested for light tolerance, they all complained that normal room light was too bright, and were more comfortable with the lights turned down. As they improved with therapy, they started asking that the lights be set at normal levels.
