For nearly half of each year, millions of Americans experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, known as SAD. A cyclical illness, SAD is characterized by depression in fall and winter, when the days are shorter, and less depressed or even elated moods in the spring and summer, when the days are longer. The good news is that SAD is treatable.Ten million Americans -- almost six percent of the population -- are estimated to have SAD. The prolonged periods of depression experienced in SAD -- five months on average -- distinguish it from the "holiday blues," a short-lived response to the stress of the holiday season.
About 83 percent of women suffer from SAD, for whom the illness typically begins in the third decade of life. SAD has also been seen in children. Most children affected by SAD have a parent or an immediate relative with SAD or another psychiatric condition.
The symptoms of SAD in adults include: sadness or anxiety, tiredness and fatigue, weight gain, carbohydrate craving, decreased energy in the fall and winter, withdrawal from friends and family, difficulty concentrating and getting tasks accomplished, and appetite changes (usually increased appetite). Symptoms in children include: irritability, difficulty getting out of bed and school problems in fall and winter.
SAD is directly related to the amount of light that is absorbed through the eyes, thus the onset is usually in October or November and subsides in March or April. Light entering via the eye is thought to modify brain chemistry and physiology.
SAD is a real illness that can be effectively treated. Light therapy consists of using a "light box" with high-intensity florescent lights, approximately 5 to 20 times greater than ordinary indoor lighting. Light therapy has proven extremely effective to combat SAD, with symptoms subsiding in as little as a few days or weeks. The treatment consists of daily 1/2-hour to 2-hour sessions of sitting in front of the light box, where patients can read, study, eat or do other daily activities.
The exact mechanism by which light therapy relieves the symptoms of SAD is still unknown. While light therapy is generally the first-line treatment approach for SAD, other methods, including antidepressant medications, may also be useful -- though their efforts have not been as well demonstrated through controlled studies. Alterations in lifestyle can also be helpful to relieve some of the symptoms of SAD, such as modifying indoor lighting environment, exposure to natural sun light, winter vacations, stress management and dietary approaches.
A commonly asked question regarding treatment for SAD is where to purchase a light box. The following list is provided; however, it is strongly advised that individuals contact a doctor or mental health specialist regarding diagnosis and treatment of SAD, which may include use of a light box. The following three distributors have wide distribution networks and established track records for service and delivery to all parts of the United States:
The Mental Health Association of Colorado (MHAC) is a community partner with the National Institute of Mental Health's Depression Awareness, Recognition and Treatment (D/ART) Program to educate people on the symptoms of and treatments for various forms of depression, including SAD. For a free brochure on SAD or other forms of depression, call NIMH (USA) at 1-800-421-4211.
- SunBox Company, Gaithersburg, Maryland USA, 1-800-548-3968
- Apollo Light Systems Inc., Orem, Utah USA, 1-800-545-9667
- Medic-Light, Inc., Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey USA, 1-800-544-4825
For further information about SAD and other forms of depression, contact Paula Padilla, Director of the Depression Awareness, Recognition and Treatment (D/ART) Program at the Mental Health Association of Colorado, USA, 303-377-3040. MHAC is a non-profit education and advocacy organization committed to eliminating the stigma of mental illnesses and enhancing access to mental health treatment.
(Source: Mental Health Association of Colorado, Inc., 6795 East Tennessee Avenue, Suite 425, Denver, Colorado 80224 USA, Telephone: 303-377-3040; FAX: 303-377-4920)Home | More Health Articles | Men | Women | Stress | Sexuality