Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) (cont.)
What causes seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder seems to develop from inadequate bright light during the winter
months. Researchers have found that bright light changes the chemicals
in the brain. Exactly how this occurs and the details of its effects are being studied.
What is the treatment for seasonal affective disorder?
Regular exposure to light that is bright,
particularly fluorescent light,
significantly improves depression in people with seasonal affective disorder that presents during the fall and winter. The light treatment is used daily in the morning and evening for best results. Temporarily changing locations to a climate that is characterized by bright light (such as the Caribbean) can achieve similar results. Light treatment has also been called phototherapy.
Phototherapy is commercially
available in the form of light boxes, which are used for approximately 30
minutes daily. The light required must be of sufficient
brightness, approximately 25 times as bright as a normal living room light. Contrary to prior theories, the light does not
need to be actual daylight from the sun. It seems that it is quantity, not necessarily quality of light, that matters in the
light treatment of seasonal affective disorder. The most common possible side effects associated with phototherapy include irritability, insomnia, headaches, and eyestrain.
Antidepressant medications, particularly those from the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor family (SSRI) family, have been found effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder that presents during summer as well as that which tends to occur during the fall or winter. Examples of SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), and citalopram (Celexa). Common side effects for this class of medications include insomnia, nausea, diarrhea, and decreased sex drive or performance. As with any other mood disorder, psychotherapy tends to accentuate the effectiveness of medical treatment and therefore should be included in the approach to addressing this disorder.
Kraft, Ulrich. Lighten Up: Seasonal affective disorder-the winter blues-can be lifted with bright light, as long as treatment if timed properly. Scientific American Mind. October 2005.
Hulisz, Darrell. Seasonal affective disorder. Netwellness. Case Western Reserve University. February 22, 2006.
Last Editorial Review: 3/30/2007
- citalopram, Celexa - Information about citalopram (Celexa) an antidepressant drug prescribed for depression, anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, and premenstrual dysphoric syndrome.
- Depression - Read about depression causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and types, including manic depression (bipolar disorder), postpartum depression and clinical depression.
- Antidepressants - Read about the differnent types of antidepressants (used to treat depression) their side effects, drug interactions, and warnings and precautions.
Latest Medical News
Mental Health RSS