Pharmacotherapy of Seasonal Affective Disorder

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 664-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edda Pjrek ◽  
Dietmar Winkler ◽  
Siegfried Kasper
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Conventional Drug ◽  
Seasonal Depression ◽  
Disorder Treatment ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder

AbstractSeasonal affective disorder is a common variant of recurrent major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. Treatment with bright artificial light has been found to be effective in this condition. However, for patients who do not respond to light therapy or those who lack compliance, conventional drug treatment with antidepressants also has been proposed. Substances with selective serotonergic or noradrenergic mechanisms should be preferred over older antidepressants. Although there are a number of open and controlled studies evaluating different compounds, these studies were often limited by relatively small sample sizes. Furthermore, there are no studies specifically addressing bipolar seasonal depression. This article will review the published literature on pharmacotherapy of seasonal affective disorder.

scholarly journals Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment Approaches

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherri Melrose
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Typical Treatment ◽  
Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is a recurrent major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern usually beginning in fall and continuing into winter months. A subsyndromal type of SAD, or S-SAD, is commonly known as “winter blues.” Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer. Symptoms center on sad mood and low energy. Those most at risk are female, are younger, live far from the equator, and have family histories of depression, bipolar disorder, or SAD. Screening instruments include the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Typical treatment includes antidepressant medications, light therapy, Vitamin D, and counselling. This paper provides an overview of SAD.

Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Review

1995 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 457-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin M Tam ◽  
Raymond W Lam ◽  
Anthony J Levitt
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Fluorescent Light ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Combination Treatments

Objective To review the status of current treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Method Treatment studies of SAD published between January 1989 and March 1995 were identified using a computerized MEDLINE literature search. Additional citations were obtained from the reference sections of these articles. Studies included in this review were selected using operational methodologic criteria. Results Many studies support the efficacy of bright light therapy using a fluorescent light box. The best studied protocol is >2500 lux white light for 2 hours per day, but newer protocols using 10,000 lux for 30 minutes have comparable response rates. Studies of light visors and other head-mounted devices also report similar response rates, but have not yet shown superiority over putative control conditions. There are fewer medication studies in SAD, but controlled studies suggest that fluoxetine, d-fenfluramine and propranolol are effective. Other treatments such as dawn simulation require further study. No studies of psychological treatments for SAD were found. Many studies had methodologic limitations, including brief treatment periods, small sample sizes, and lack of replication, that limit the generalizability of findings. Conclusion There are several well-studied, effective treatments for SAD, including light therapy and medications. However, further research must be done to demonstrate sustained treatment response over time, to clarify the intensity-response relationship of light therapy, to clarify the role of light therapy and medications, and to assess combination treatments.

A Follow-up Study of Seasonal Affective Disorder

1995 ◽  
Vol 167 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Thompson ◽  
Sunil K. Raheja ◽  
Elizabeth A. King
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Course Of Illness ◽  
Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Subsyndromal Symptoms

BackgroundThe long-term course of seasonal affective disorder has not been well studied.MethodUsing the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM–III–R, we interviewed 75% of a sample of 124 subjects diagnosed from five to eight years previously as fulfilling DSM–III–R criteria for recurrent major affective disorder, seasonal pattern.ResultsIn the follow-up period, 38% of the sample continued to fulfil DSM–III–R criteria for seasonal illness; 28% had recurrent major depressive disorder, but no longer displayed a seasonal pattern; 18% were completely well with no further depression; 6% had subsyndromal symptoms; and 5%, although not meeting DSM–III–R criteria for seasonal illness, were still displaying constant periodicity. A short duration of index episode and a high frequency of illness predicted a continuing seasonal course of illness.ConclusionDiagnostic criteria for seasonal affective disorder need to be further refined, possibly restrictively, if they are to be used to predict the future course of seasonal illness.

Light therapy increases visual contrast sensitivity in seasonal affective disorder

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltán Szabó ◽  
Andrea Antal ◽  
Zsolt Tokaji ◽  
János Kálmán ◽  
Szabolcs Kéri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Contrast Sensitivity ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Visual Contrast ◽  
Visual Contrast Sensitivity

Depressive mood and circadian rhythms disturbances as outcomes of seasonal affective disorder treatment: A systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 241 ◽  
pp. 608-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Menculini ◽  
Norma Verdolini ◽  
Andrea Murru ◽  
Isabella Pacchiarotti ◽  
Umberto Volpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Depressive Mood ◽  
Disorder Treatment

Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder the Effects of Timing

1995 ◽  
Vol 166 (5) ◽  
pp. 607-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Meesters ◽  
J. H. C. Jansen ◽  
D. G. M. Beersma ◽  
A. L. Bouhuys ◽  
R. H. Van Den Hoofdakker
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Light Treatment ◽  
Therapeutic Outcome ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Rank Ordering ◽  
Term Rank

BackgroundSixty-eight patients with seasonal affective disorder participated in a 10 000-lux light treatment study in which two questions were addressed: do response rates differ when the light is applied at different times of the day and does short-term rank ordering of morning and evening light influence response rates?MethodThree groups of patients received a 4-day light treatment: (I) in the morning (8.00–8.30 a.m., n = 14), (II) in the afternoon (1.00–1.30 p.m., n = 15) or (III) in the evening (8.00–8.30 p.m., n = 12). Two additional groups of patients received two days of morning light treatment followed by two days of evening light (IV, n = 13) or vice versa (V, n = 14).ResultsResponse rates for groups I, II and III were 69, 57 and 80% respectively, with no significant differences between them. Response rates for groups IV and V were 67 and 50% respectively; this difference was not significant and these percentages did not differ significantly from those of groups I and III.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the timing of light treatment is not critical and that short-term rank ordering of morning and evening light does not influence therapeutic outcome.

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