Tis the Season for Depression

Seasonal affective disorder affects millions of individuals during the winter months.  Also known as the “winter blues” or “winter depression,” seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can be either mild or severe and is characterized by many of the same symptoms as clinical depression.  These symptoms can include a lack of energy and difficulty waking up in the morning.  The tendency to oversleep as well as overeat also occurs along with a craving for carbohydrates that often leads to weight gain.  There is also difficulty concentrating on tasks and a withdrawal from friends and family.

SAD is felt to be related to the changes in light that occur with winter.  Some of the evidence that would suggest this includes the higher rates of seasonal affective disorder in the regions of the world farthest from the equator and the effectiveness of light therapy in treatment of SAD.  For example, the incidence of the winter blues in Maine and New Hampshire is seven times the rate in Florida.

Treatments for seasonal depression can include cognitive behavioral therapy, use of melatonin supplementation, anti-depressant medications, ionized-air administration, and light therapy.  Some of the anti-depressants that can be used include Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil.  Wellbutrin can also be used to prevent SAD.

Seasonal affective disorder was first suggested by psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal, MD in 1984 after moving from South Africa to New York.  He began experimenting with light therapy for its treatment and is considered a pioneer in the use of light therapy.  He has written many publications related to mood disorders, biological rhythms, and sleep.

Light therapy for the treatment of SAD requires the use of special lights that emit up to 10,000 lux at specific wavelengths that can alter the levels of melatonin in the body.  Although not currently approved by the US FDA, light therapy is considered one of the main forms of treatment for seasonal depression and has been shown to be effective.  Natural sunlight is considered the preferred method of light therapy if possible.

Ionized-air administration involves using electricity to create negative ions.  If the density of negative ions is high enough, these have been shown in several studies to be effective in the treatment of SAD.  Individuals who sat in front of a negative ion generator for 30 minutes each morning seemed to benefit as much as those who took anti-depressants.

Needless to say, I think there probably ought to be more research into the disorder itself as well as the light therapy and negative ion treatments to discover in more detail why these treatments seem to work and if there are better methods or regimens of treatment.  In the meantime, it would make sense that for those of us who live up north, a week in Florida in the winter is just what the doctor ordered.