Seasonal affective disorder |
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a form of mood disorder or depression directly
affected by the seasons. Sufferers of SAD find that their emotional state is quite
normal during the summer months, but as the days grow shorter, colder and greyer during
the autumn and winter, their moods seem to
match the seasons. The seriousness of SAD can range from the mild ennui of dysthymia to a serious attack of clinical depression, which can require hospitalization.
It is believed that SAD is related to a lack of serotonin and that exposure to
full-spectrum artificial light may improve the condition by stimulating seratonin production. Light therapy appears to be effective in treating SAD, but the exact mechanism of the effect is still
unknown.
Full Spectrum bulbs and "sunlight lamps" can be purchased as specialty lighting products for those suffering from SAD.
One recent trial seemed to indicate that shining a bright light behind the sufferers' knees would be beneficial, but when the
trial was duplicated on a larger scale, the results were negative.
External links
|