SAD Light Therapy

Kunbi Balogun asked:


A light therapy box is a small, portable device containing fluorescent bulbs or tubes and is used in the treatment of SAD. A variety of light therapy boxes tailored to help treat SAD currently exist. As such, it is essential to know what to look out for when you have made a decision to buy an SAD light box.

Light therapy is most effective when you have the proper combination of intensity, duration and timing.

The intensity of a light box is recorded in lux; this is a measure of the amount of light received at a specific distance from a light source. Light boxes specifically used for light therapy usually produce between 2500 and 10000 lux (10000 lux being typical, this is usually about ten times brighter than exposure to normal room lights but still weaker than light experienced on a sunny beach). The intensity of the light box you use may determine the distance at which you need to be from it and most importantly the length of time you need to use it. 10000 lux light boxes typically require, on average, 30 minutes per session. On the other hand, 2500 lux light boxes may require up to 2 hours per session.

The duration of light treatment works hand in hand with the intensity of your light box, and as such, at lower intensities, longer light therapy sessions will be required daily. Typical daily sessions of light therapy ranges from 20 minutes to 2 hours. As previously mentioned, an intensity of 10000 lux would typically require about 30 minutes per session.

The time of day during which light therapy can be administered can vary. However, light therapy is most effective for most people if used in the morning on waking up. Administering light therapy at night can disrupt your sleep.

When choosing a light box, the following are a few things to consider,

1. Intensity – It is essential to look out for a light box, which allows you the right intensity at a distance comfortable for you. Nowadays most light boxes offer 10000 lux within a few inches from the box.

2. UV exposure – Be on the look out for light boxes, which produce as little UV light as possible at high intensity or which carefully shield UV rays that are produced.

3. Light direction – It is essential that light should come from above your line of sight and not below it. Ensure the light box you want can be positioned appropriately.

4. Style – Light boxes come in various shapes and styles, some look like upright lamps, whilst others are small and rectangular. You can even purchase small, portable “on the go” light boxes if you travel frequently.

5. Convenience – This is something to consider if you are looking for a portable light box that can be moved easily and can fit the desired location in your home or office.

References

Learn more about SAD by visiting our SAD Learning Centre.

Start shopping from our range of SAD products.

Useful links

MayoClinic – SAD: Treatment with light therapy

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/MH00023

MayoClinic – SAD: Choosing a light therapy box

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/DN00013

National Alliance on Mental Illness

http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Seasonal_Affective_Disorder_(SAD).htm

Mental Health Foundation

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/information/mental-health-a-z/seasonal-affective-disorder/

Disclaimer

This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

Find out more information: http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/sad_learning_Centre.html

Visit us on facebook:

Kunbi Balogun asked:


Over the age of 65 it affects about 1 in 20. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s continues to increase with age, so those aged 80 have a higher risk of developing it than those aged 65. By the age of 85 nearly 1 in 2 will have the disease. Women have a slightly greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s than men. It is thought that about 500,000 people in the UK are believed to have the disease. There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease and very few effective treatments are available.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can vary greatly, but those with the disease often have one or more of the following:

1. Problem with memory

2. Problems with speech and language

3. Confusion

4. Changes in mood and behaviour

5. Problem learning new information, ideas or skills

6. Difficulty performing simple everyday tasks

People afflicted with Alzheimer’s often suffer disturbances in circadian (daily) rhythm, which affects body functions such as sleep cycles, temperature, alertness and hormone production. As a result, impaired sleep and nocturnal restlessness place great burdens on the sufferer and the care giver. Sedatives are usually prescribed; however these have limited usefulness and are typically accompanied by side effects.

It is thought that daily exposure of Alzheimer’s patients to bright light may resolve circadian rhythm sleep disorders. According to the Sleep Review, clinical research has shown that exposure to very bright light in the day and darkness at night can consolidate rest and activity patterns in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. In a 12-week trial involving 27 women and 5 men aged 60-95 years, 15 subjects received 1 hour of exposure to bright natural light each morning and 17 control subjects were exposed only to normal low-light conditions. Results obtained from this trial indicated a trend toward increased sleep efficiency (percentage of time in bed spent asleep), decreased nighttime wakefulness, and decreased nighttime activity in the intervention group, compared with the controls.

Although further research needs to be done in this area, existing research have produced very promising results, which is a real light at the end of the tunnel for Alzheimer’s Disease sufferers, caregivers and family members caring for such patients.

Useful links

Alzheimer’s Society

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

NHS Direct - Alzheimer’s disease

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=14

Family Practice News Article - Light Therapy Aids Alzheimer’s Sleep Disorders

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BJI/is_17_30/ai_66168796

Sleep Review - Light Therapy and Alzheimer’s disease

http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/issues/articles/2003-01_01.asp

Disclaimer

This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

Find out more information: http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/Light_Therapy_and_Alzheimer_s_Disease.html

Visit us on facebook:

Jane Wyvern asked:


Acne Blue Light Therapy has become a popular trend in recent years. The research and studies to date have shown that it can be successful to treat acne with blue light therapy and this conclusion opened up another avenue for patients who continue to suffer from acne after trying all other options or patients who cannot for one reason or another use certain treatments.

The purpose of the acne blue light therapy is to get rid of the cause acne eruptions. It does this by destroying the bacteria that causes acne in the first place, P. acnes. P. acnes causes the inflammation of the skin by emitting molecules known as porphyrins.

Studies show that if these porphyrin molecules are put under a particular wavelength of blue light, they let loose free radicals which end up harming the bacteria causing the acne clears to clear up eventually.

The light therapy is a better process than other acne reducing procedures such as medication. This is because it is completely natural, it is non invasive and the procedure has very little side affects. People of ages and various skin types can use it daily without any problems.

The procedure usually takes place in a total of eight sessions, lasting for fifteen minutes each. They go on for about a month. The side affects are minimal. A person may suffer from swelling in the treated areas. The skin might be dry and there may be skin pigment changes.

Because of these reasons, this treatment has been approved by many professionals for patients with inflammatory acne lesions and not recommended for those who suffer from nodulocystic acne.

The acne light therapy of today can be seen advertised on TV, the internet and other forms of media throughout the world. Unlike previous light therapy methods to treat acne, FDA approved Acne Blue light products currently do not use UV light.

Kunbi Balogun asked:


It is not classified as a disease as it is a condition that causes many different symptoms, which affect all systems in the body. 90% of those affected are female (especially during child bearing ages) with most patients experiencing symptoms between the ages of twenty and forty. Children and the elderly can also be affected by FM.

FM has no known cause as there is little evidence supporting any of the theories suggested by researchers. It is however thought to be triggered by,

1. Sleep disorders

2. Injury and Muscle Trauma

3. Genetic predisposition

4. Immune System Abnormalities, and

5. Infectious agents, including viruses and bacteria

FM has two main components, pain and fatigue. Pain is felt throughout the body (ligaments, tendons and muscles) and can range from mildly uncomfortable to excruciating. It can also continue for months and even years. Fatigue can be experienced as anything from feeling a little tired to feeling absolutely exhausted, and can make the pain of the illness harder to bear.

Symptoms include:

1. Morning stiffness

2. Wide spread pain

3. Sleep disorders

4. Chronic headaches

5. Dizziness

6. Nausea

7. Depression

8. Facial and jaw pain

9. Irritable bowel, frequent bouts of diarrhoea or constipation and irritable bladder

10. Cognitive dysfunction including lack of concentration and mixing up words

(To mention a few)

Patients often feel they are aching all over, with muscles feeling sore, stiff and overworked. Muscle twitching is also not rare in FM and can sometimes feel like they are burning.

Treatment for FM tends to be very comprehensive and can involve a number of health care providers including physicians, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, chiropractors and occupational therapists. Common treatments include pharmaceutical treatments such as the use of Lentizol, Sinequan or Seroxat. Other treatments include relaxation techniques, therapeutic massage, gentle exercise program, acupuncture, change in diet and cognitive behaviour therapy, to mention a few.

Light therapy is an alternative therapy, which can be used for treating symptoms of fibromyalgia. It can help reduce muscle pain, depression, fatigue and sleep disorders. Three different types of light therapy can be used for treating symptoms of fibromyalgia: Bright Light Therapy, Colour Therapy and Low Laser Light Therapy (LLLT).

Based on the idea that our body is specifically attuned to light, bright light therapy uses high powered fluorescent lights to help trigger the release of specific hormones, which help to restore the body’s natural rhythm and overall health. Bright light therapy for fibromyalgia is typically carried out using a light box, which is typically placed in front of you at eye level. Depending on the intensity of the light box, treatment time could be between 15 minutes to 3 hours. You remain seated in front of the box without staring at the light box, but absorbing the light while carrying out other activities such as reading, eating, etc.

Colour therapy is a form of phototherapy, which delivers coloured beams of light to various parts of the body and its usage is becoming more popular among chronic pain sufferers. As the eyes see the coloured beams of light, the light energy is converted into electric impulses, which travel through the brain, triggering the release of hormones such as serotonin and endorphins, which help to improve your mood and ease pain. The four colours typically used are red, blue, violet, and white. Colour therapy is very relaxing and typically lasts between 15 minutes and 1 hour.

Also known as Cold Light Therapy or Soft Laser Light Therapy, Low Laser Light Therapy (LLLT) helps to reduce pain and promote healing by increasing the energy levels of certain cells in the body. Low-frequency laser light beams are applied to various painful areas of the body, once the photons emitted by these beams are absorbed by the body; they are converted into cellular energy by the energy power houses within the cells (the mitochondria). Consequently, this helps to increase the rate at which your body heals thereby eliminating pain.

Various studies have suggested that light therapy is highly effective at reducing symptoms of chronic pain, fatigue and depression, and as such is worth a try for fibromyalgia patients who yearn to be relieved of their symptoms. Read more about light therapy in our brand new Light Therapy Learning Centre. As effective as light therapy is for various disorders, certain individuals are advised against using it especially those suffering from epilepsy, skin sensitivities, glaucoma, bipolar disorders, cataracts and other eye diseases.

References

Start shopping from our range of Light Therapy products.

Light Therapy…Did you know?

Useful links

UK Fibromyalgia

http://www.ukfibromyalgia.com/support_pages/support-frames.html

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/index.html

Fibromyalgia Association UK

http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/

Fibrofocus

http://www.fibrofocus.org.uk/links.html

Disclaimer

This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

Find out more information: http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/Light_Therapy_learning_Centre.html

Visit us on facebook:

Light therapy asked:


A slow increase in light that helps you to wake up without any stress : that is the dawn simulator also known as the sunrise alarm clock or even light alarm from SOLVITAL.

Imitating the sunrise in the morning and dusk at night so that you can wake up and fall asleep naturally and without stress.

Finished stressful wakeup calls with ringing alarms, which make you jump, with the sunrise alarm clock you can wake up naturally to light, just like in the summer and, the same at night to the gradual decrease in light.  An original idea for a present, for those who have trouble sleeping and, for those who have trouble waking up.  The dawn simulator is used for children aswell as adults who will sleep naturally and wake up with no problems.

 6 reasons for using the dawn simulator :

- The dawn simulator has been clinically tested,

- The dawn simulator allows you to wake up naturally,

- Being woken up by dawn simulation ensures the natural secretion of Cortisol,

- The dawn simulator ensures biorhythm regulation,

- The dawn simulator helps fight insomnia,

- The dawn simulator helps you to fall asleep at night.

Solvital site is also a specialist in bright light therapy, which is very different from dawn simulation.  This treatment helps to fight against all problems linked to a lack of natural sunlight.  When light intensity is inferior to 2000 lux (light intensity) the body naturally secrets melatonin (sleeping hormone) which in turn brings on moodiness, tiredness, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) etc… Simply being exposed to an intensive bright light designes specially for therapy use, the production of melatonin is blocked and normal activity and energy is regained.

 For more information Solvital light therapy and sunrise alarm clocks

James Hunaban asked:


While Seasonal Affective Disorder mildly impacts twenty-five percent of the population, it seriously impacts another five percent of the population. This is a form of natural depression, which normally starts in Sept but peaks in Jan and Feb. It’s easily brushed aside and overlooked. It’s also difficult to diagnose, and may in reality be as hard to diagnose as fibromyalgia and ADD (attention deficit disorder) both are. This is because while some folks might acquire the wintertime blues, and some folks feel sluggish, people with SAD in reality have a debilitating disorder.

While some people who suffer from this only have a modest, temporary feeling of helplessness, which is a very modest form of natural depression, other people may have an extremely severe case. Numerous studies have demonstrated that 1 out of every ten people actually have some type of SAD. As is true with clinical depression, occasionally people who have been diagnosed with SAD actually commit suicide. SAD may even advance into other types of depressive disorder. A few of these other forms include manic depression and schizophrenia.

Some of the symptoms of include feeling sluggish, catching some Z’s for more than ten hours a day and yet still feeling fatigued, and migraines which may get rather severe and normally peak once there are drops in barometrical pressure.

There have been studies done to demonstrate that those folks who are depressed are actually more prone to extreme alterations in temperature. Some researchers have pronounced that this was because of a lower level of electrolytes, salts, and other all-important minerals in the body and brain. Among these minerals is potassium. It has been shown that having a depleted level of potassium will produce a severe headache. Two additional significant elements are Vitamin D and exposure to the sun, or at the very least, to ultraviolet lighting. A lot of doctors really think that as there’s minor sun exposure during the wintertime, which means that an individual has a lower level of Vitamin D, they can actually get SAD.

It does not matter what age you are, you could still get it. However, it’s interesting to observe that SAD is uncommon in childhood and that it commonly impacts more women than men. As a matter of fact, it normally happens in women who are 35-years-old or older.

If you have evidence that you or a loved one has symptoms, then it’s strongly recommended for you to get medical care. It could merely comprise a chemical instability, which an easy alteration in your diet could easily fix. This condition can also be offset by skin treatments, skin peels, and trips to the health spa. Yet, this condition might also be more severe. This is why you ought to never let this condition go. There’s zero sense in suffering through it. There have been many modern medical advancements that enable those who suffer from SAD to be treated effectively, thus greatly bettering their quality of life.

For those who are diagnosed with SAD, light therapy is frequently suggested. Normally an individual requires to be in the light for thirty to sixty minutes every day with their eyes open, only not directly focusing on the light. It has been recommended that the best time for this therapy is in the morning. It will take a few weeks for the full effect of the treatment to happen. However, some betterment ought to be noticed inside one week. There are also a few medications available. These are selective serotonin reputake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Danna Schneider asked:


You will probably be hearing a lot more about various forms of light therapy over the next few years as it steps more into mainstream medical use and becomes less known as sort of a “fringe” science as some look at it. 

You see, light can be incredibly healing, and also damaging, but the right types of light at the right concentrations can be therapeutic alternative ways to treat several disorders, including as a cosmetic skin treatment, and use as a defense against mood disorders and depression.

Let’s talk first about the medical uses for light therapy, as they apply to a patient’s mental health.  There is a well known documentation of a mood disorder called SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which coincides with the winter months where there is not much sunlight available and the days are shorter while the night time darkness is longer. 

This results, for many, in a sort of cyclical depression in which they can’t seem to get out of a depressed and melancholy mood for those months, but once the spring and summer daylight hours change, their symptoms seem to get better.

Well, to simulate the daylight of spring and summer time, doctors created a treatment program for those affected with SAD where an LED light (Light Emitting Diode) box is used daily by the patient to simulate the lightness of day time, which is supposed to create a domino effect of dopamine and other chemical reactions in the body which help to elevate the mood. 

And the best part is it’s natural, there are no drugs with all those side effects and there are no chemical dependencies set up for a person to need drugs for the rest of their life with this method of treatment.  You’re essentially mimicking nature’s own natural mood booster, which is much more preferable than using chemicals to interfere with brain function to cause a similar effect.

This sort of light therapy has been known to help boost the mood, enhance your body’s circadian rhythm of sleeping and wakefulness at the proper times of day, and also to increase energy levels since mood and energy are closely related.  A lot of patients see success with this type of light therapy to treat their seasonal mood differences.  In fact, you don’t even have to be under a doctor’s care to get light therapy, as there are many different light therapy boxes that you can purchase for use in your own home.

Now, let’s talk about light therapy as it relates to cosmetic enhancement.  That’s right, light therapy in different forms than it comes for mood enhancement can be incredibly healing, correcting and soothing to the skin and it is used for skin problems ranging from acne and rosacea to aging and wrinkles.  As you can see, light therapy has quite a broad spectrum of uses, no pun intended.

Acne is one of the skin disorders that can be successfully treated using light therapy.  There is somewhat of an argument over what spectrum of light therapy is best, red or blue, for acne, but the general consensus is that blue light is better for acne healing and bacteria targeting while red light is better used for aging skin and can target wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots more effectively. 

There is even some argument that you should not mix the two (red and blue) because together they negate each other’s positive effects on the skin.  The idea with these therapies is that the time spent under the red of blue concentrated light helps to heal the skin, and generally helps to increase collagen production, which makes the skin heal faster and look younger, firmer and more toned, while also helping to fade away acne and wrinkles by plumping up the skin.

IPL is a form of concentrated light therapy that is popular in the treatment against aging and wrinkling that is gaining momentum now in dermatologist’s offices and spas around the US. 

It’s called Intense Pulsed Light therapy, and it uses intense, pulsated blasts of light that penetrate the skin’s epidermis and help increase collagen in a more dramatic fashion.  This sort of therapy can be used in combination with others such as chemical peels and microdermabrasion since light therapy is noninvasive and actually should help speed the recovery of the skin after skin treatments. 

Pulsed light therapies for the skin are becoming more and more popular as women and men opt for more natural skin care treatments that help them maintain their youthful looks without altering their faces, expressions, or symmetry as other procedures can do.

Light therapy asked:


, for a number of people, they have a low morale.  The light in the summer is a long way off with the days that are getting shorter seasonal depression aswell as winter blues can affect us.  One person out of five will be affected by the arrival of autumn.  Light therapy is an ideal way to recharge the batteries so that we can find the energy linked with the light. 

The winter season which depresses us

The loss of light affects directly our morale.  One summers day brings a light intensity of 100 000 lux (light intensity) and in the bright office, we recieve only 400 lux.  This contrast affects directly our matabolisme by the changes of our hormones with an over production of melatonin (sleeping hormone) during the day.

Light therapy, a treatment against winter blues and seasonal depression

Light therapy can be used in the home or in a number of hospitals.

The use at home of this light therapy can be used for comfort.

How to use it

All you have to do is be exposed to a light therapy lamp, at a respectable distance and a duration of time. The results of this treatment are quite quick as it consists of sending a light message via the retina and the nurotransmitters so as to inhabit the secretion of the melatonin.

You will find all the information you need on light therapy and Seasonal Affective Disorder on the Solvital light therapy website

Thomas Leroy asked:


Today, acne is a very common skin problem mostly faced by the people between the age group of 12 and 24 years. Acne occurs when the oil produced by the skin glands entraps in the pores and thus bacteria traps in those pores which harm the skin.

There are numerous acne treatments depending upon the different kinds of skin. Talking about the most successful treatment, light therapies are the long term solutions to this problem suitable for all the skin types. The most commonly used treatment therapy is the blue light acne therapy.

The major devices which are used for the blue light acne therapy are:

Evis MD Platinum Blue Omnilux Clear-U (emits both blue and red light) Baby Quasar - Baby Blue Tanda Professional Skin Care System (emits both blue and red light) ANSR Acne Light Therapy System (emits both blue and red light)

Treatment

The blue light therapy kills the bacteria named as P.Acne or Propionibacterium Acne. With the use of blue light, the bacteria are removed from the roots thereby stopping any further increase of acne bacteria.

The dermatologists recommend the blue light therapy treatment for the acne problems as it is a natural treatment and does not cause damage to the skin. The acne wounds and the glands producing these wounds are killed by the blue light treatment.

The main advantage of blue light treatment is that it does not include any kind of severe side effects. It does not harm the skin tissues at all. The dermatologists recommend the use of branded products for acne treatment. The major drawback of the blue light treatment is that can cause problems like swelling, skin dryness or some skin color changes which disappear with time or can easily be overcome under the dermatologist guidance.

The most important point to remember is that the commonly used relevant creams only dries out the pimples however this therapy kills off the bacteria and reduces the lesions, papules and pimples. Combined with red light, acne light therapy is even more effective : it repairs skin cells, reduces acne scars and heals skin faster.

Kunbi Balogun asked:


This is followed by full remission or hypomanic states (mild state of mania) during the following spring and summer.1 A rare form of SAD occurs during the summer. SAD is generally characterised by four central features,

1. Recurrent major depressive episodes, which start around the same time each year, for example September to October, and end around the same time each year, for example March to April,

2. Full remission of symptoms during the unaffected period of the year, for example May to August,

3. Relatively more seasonal depressive episodes than non-seasonal episodes, over the lifetime course of the illness,

4. Seasonal depressive episodes occur in at least 2 consecutive years.2

Subsyndromal SAD is a disorder with similar but milder symptoms to SAD, which do not affect the patient’s ability to function. It has been reported that there is a paucity of information concerning the incidence and detection of SAD in UK populations.3 Prevalence rates suggested by studies carried out have ranged from 1 to 12% depending on the diagnostic criteria used.4 The overall lifetime incidence of SAD is said to range from 0 to 9.7%, depending on the specific population studied and how it is diagnosed. SAD prevalence may be higher in northern latitudes than southern latitudes and may vary within ethnic groups at the same latitude.5 It has been reported that the risk of SAD probably increases if people move to live further away from the equator. Almost all the studies of the incidence of SAD report that women are more likely to suffer from SAD. The average ratio of women to men across all studies is 1.8 to 1.2 During the reproductive years, female sufferers predominate; however a reduction in incidence and a narrowing of gender differences is seen in old age.6 With respect to age, studies report that the life time incidence of SAD increases with age until around age 60. After the age of 50-54, it is reported that the incidence declines dramatically and as such, over the age of 65 the incidence of SAD is very low. Regardless of this however, patients over 65 may still present to hospitals for treatment. It has been suggested that the response of patients over 65 to treatment does not differ from that of younger patients with SAD.2 It should be noted that the low incidence of SAD in older individuals may be as a result of misdiagnosis as physicians may consider symptoms presented by such individuals as being down to old age and not SAD. Children also suffer from SAD, although this is quite rare as children have more opportunity than adults to play and interact outdoors thereby exposing them to more sunlight and as such suppressing any possible triggers of SAD; however, incidence rates rise at puberty.6 Severity of SAD can be mild, moderate or severe.

Cause of SAD

The cause of SAD is unknown. However it is thought that in people predisposed to winter SAD, decreasing daylight period as winter approaches is thought to be a trigger.7 Essentially, the onset of SAD is thought to be associated with seasonal reduction in daylight, and its remission to ensuing seasonal increase in daylight.8

Symptoms

Symptoms of SAD include,

1. Hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)

2. Chocolate/carbohydrate craving

3. Impaired concentration

4. Irritability

5. Weight gain

6. Low libido

7. Anhedonia (lack of pleasure or of the capacity to experience it)

8. Low mood, which is often worse in the morning

9. Loss of interest

10. Poor motivation

11. Anxiety

12. Anergia (lack of energy)

13. Social withdrawal

14. In children, symptoms may also include grades falling in the winter and rising in the spring, or poor relations at school during winter

Patients with winter SAD may experience a reversal of their winter symptoms during the summer, that is, elevated mood, increased libido, social activity and energy, decreased sleep requirements, appetite and mild hypomania (mild state of mania).8

Associated diagnosis

Several conditions have been reported to be associated with SAD as they share similar mechanisms. These include,

1. Panic disorders

2. Social phobia

3. Bulimia nervosa

4. Chronic fatigue syndrome

5. Premenstrual syndrome

6. May also be associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

7. A pattern of seasonal alcohol use may also be associated with SAD7

Treatment

Treatment options for SAD include,

1. Regular exposure to natural light outdoors (natural light therapy) as much as possible in autumn and winter, particularly in the morning. This is advisable for milder symptoms and in conjunction with other therapies in severe cases.6

2. Continuing regular exercise. This is antidepressant in itself and helps to reduce weight gain and promote a feeling of mastery. Exercising outdoors (walking or light jogging) is even more beneficial through concurrent light exposure.6 This should also be used in conjunction with other therapies.

3. Light therapy has been recommended as the first line treatment for SAD.9 This includes the use of light boxes. Alternatives include light sources adapted for the workplace (such as desk lights or fitments above computer screens), rechargeable light visors and dawn-simulating alarm clocks (body clocks).6 Both subsyndromal and full-syndromal SAD may respond to light therapy. See our range of light therapy products.

4. Cognitive behavioural therapy. This has some effectiveness in improving dysfunctional automatic thoughts and attitudes, behaviour withdrawal and low rates of positive reinforcements. When used in combination with light therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy has been found to be effective in the treatment and prevention against recurrence of SAD.5, 6

5. Pharmacotherapy (antidepressants such as Fluoxetine and Sertraline). These are often used in moderate to severe cases, either alone or in conjunction with light therapy.6

References

1. Prjek E, et al. Bright light therapy in seasonal affective disorder-does it suffice? Eur Neuropharmacol 2004;14:347-351

2. Apollo Light Research Archive. Canadian Consensus Guidelines for the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Ed. Raymond W. Lam & Anthony J. Levitt.

3. Michalak EE, Wilkinson C, Dowrick C, Wilkinson G. Seasonal Affective Disorder: prevalence, detection and current treatment in North Wales. Br J Psychiatry 2001; 179:31-34.

4. Thompson C, Thompson S, Smith R. Prevalence of seasonal affective disorder in primary care: a comparison of seasonal health questionnaire and the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire. J Affect Disord 2004; 78: 219-226.

5. Lurie S, et al. Seasonal Affective Disorder. Am Fam Physician 2006; 74: 1521-1524.

6. Eagles JM. Light therapy and seasonal affective disorder. Psychiatry 2006; 5(6): 199-203.

7. Partonen T, Lonnqvist J. Seasonal Affective Disorder. Lancet 1998; 352: 1369-1374.

8. Reid S, Towell AD, Golding JF. Seasonality, social zeitgebers and mood variability in entrainment of mood: Implication for seasonal affective disorder. J Affect Disord 2000; 59: 47-54.

9. Sher L. Aetiology and pathogenesis of mood disorders. Q J Med 2003; 96: 309-313.

10. Michalak EE, Murray G, Wilkinson C, Dowrick C, Lam RW. A pilot study adherence with light treatment for seasonal affective disorder. Psychiatry Res 2007;149: 315-320.

Disclaimer

This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

Find out more information: http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/sad_learning_Centre.html

Visit us on facebook: