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.

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.

Melatonine en stemmingsstoornissen

1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 75-79
Author(s):  
J. Beullens
Keyword(s):  
Pineal Gland ◽  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Premenstrual Syndrome ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Melatonin Level ◽  
Melatonin Secretion ◽  
The Relationship

SummaryMelatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland mainly during the night. The discovery that this melatonin secretion decreases under the influence of bright light, gave rise to the use of light therapy in some affective disorders. The literature on the relationship between melatonin secretion and mood is reviewed concerning seasonal affective disorder, non-seasonal affective disorder and premenstrual syndrome. Light therapy could reduce an abnormal high melatonin secretion back to normal proportions. None of the affective disorders, however, is accompanied by an unusual high melatonin level. Nevertheless, light therapy as well as other therapies that suppress melatonin have a therapeutic effect. This is not the case with the administration of melatonin. Mood is not affected by extra melatonin in seasonal affective disorder but it is in both other affective disorders. Melatonin plays a part in the pathogenesis of the affective disorders but it is not yet clear which one.

The Diagnosis, Symptomatology, and Epidemiology of Seasonal Affective Disorder

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 625-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Magnusson ◽  
Timo Partonen
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Northern Latitudes ◽  
Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Operational Criteria

AbstractThe operational criteria for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) have undergone several changes since first proposed in 1984. SAD is currently included as a specifier of either bipolar or recurrent major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition has provisional diagnostic criteria for SAD. The most characteristic quality of SAD is that the symptoms usually present during winter and remit in the spring. Furthermore, the symptoms tend to remit when the patients are exposed to daylight or bright light therapy. The cognitive and emotional symptoms are as in other types of depression but the vegetative symptoms are the reverse of classic depressive vegetative symptoms, namely increased sleep and increased appetite. SAD is a common condition, but the exact prevalence rates vary between different studies and countries and is consistently found to be more common in women and in youth. SAD probably possibly occurs in children although not as commonly as in young adults. Some studies have found that certain ethnic groups who live at high northern latitudes may have adapted to the long arctic winter.

P.1.172 Bright light therapy in seasonal affective disorder — does it suffice?

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. S247-S248
Author(s):  
E. Pjrek ◽  
D. Winkler ◽  
A. Konstantinidis ◽  
N. Thierry ◽  
A. Heiden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Bright Light Therapy

Effects of rapid tryptophan depletion in patients with seasonal affective disorder in natural summer remission

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. LAM ◽  
T. A. BOWERING ◽  
E. M. TAM ◽  
A. GREWAL ◽  
L. N. YATHAM ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Brain Serotonin ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Control Session ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Plasma Tryptophan

Background. Serotonergic mechanisms have been proposed for the pathophysiology of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and the therapeutic effect of bright-light treatment. Previously, we showed that SAD patients, in clinical remission with light therapy during the winter, experienced transient depressive relapses after a rapid tryptophan depletion (RTD) technique, which results in decreased brain serotonin levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of RTD in SAD patients who were in natural summer remission.Methods. Twelve drug-free patients with SAD by DSM-IV criteria and 10 normal subjects participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. SAD patients were in natural summer remission for at least 8 weeks. Behavioural ratings and plasma tryptophan levels were obtained before, and 5 h after, ingesting an amino acid (AA) mixture±tryptophan. Experimental RTD and control sessions were scheduled 1 week apart.Results. The RTD session resulted in significant reduction in total and free plasma tryptophan levels compared to the control session. The behavioural data were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance. This analysis found significant main effects of time (higher scores after AA ingestion) and diagnosis (higher scores in SAD patients), but no main effect of session or significant interaction effects between the three factors. Thus, there were no significant behavioural effects of RTD compared to the sham depletion control session.Conclusions. The summer remission experienced by SAD patients is not dependent on plasma tryptophan levels (and presumably brain serotonin function) in the same manner as that of remission after light therapy. These results conflict with those of other laboratories, perhaps because of differences in study samples.

Ophthalmologic Examination of Patients With Seasonal Affective Disorder, Before and After Bright Light Therapy

1995 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAMELA F. GALLIN ◽  
MICHAEL TERMAN ◽  
CHARLOTTE E. REMÉ ◽  
BRIAN RAFFERTY ◽  
JIUAN SU TERMAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Bright Light Therapy ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ophthalmologic Examination

scholarly journals Brain monoamine oxidase A in seasonal affective disorder and treatment with bright light therapy

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Spies ◽  
Gregory M. James ◽  
Chrysoula Vraka ◽  
Cécile Philippe ◽  
Marius Hienert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoamine Oxidase ◽  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Monoamine Oxidase A ◽  
Bright Light Therapy ◽  
Brain Monoamine

scholarly journals Bright light therapy for symptoms of anxiety and depression in focal epilepsy: randomised controlled trial

2013 ◽  
Vol 202 (5) ◽  
pp. 352-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sallie Baxendale ◽  
John O'Sullivan ◽  
Dominic Heaney
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Focal Epilepsy ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Bright Light Therapy ◽  
Low Intensity

BackgroundBright light therapy is an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder and non-seasonal depression. Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy.AimsTo examine the efficacy of bright light therapy for symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with focal epilepsy (trial registration at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01028456).MethodWe recruited 101 adults with medically intractable focal epilepsy. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at the beginning (T1) and end of a 12-week baseline period (T2) and again after 12 weeks of daily light therapy (T3), with 51 participants using a high-intensity light box and 50 using a low-intensity one. Seizure diaries were kept throughout the baseline and trial period.ResultsA total of 58 patients completed the trial. Anxiety and depression scores were significantly reduced following the light therapy at T3in both the high- and low-intensity groups.ConclusionsLight therapy resulted in a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression but we did not find any differences between high- v. low-intensity treatment This may, therefore, be an effective treatment for symptoms of low mood in epilepsy at lower intensities than those typically used to treat seasonal affective disorder. Further work is needed to investigate this possibility with an adequate placebo condition.

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