Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and lightbox treatments

Dec 2 2007 by Pauline Holt, Sunday Sun

FEELING unaccountably down now the dark days of winter are approaching? You may be a victim of SAD, as PAULINE HOLT reports . . .

IT’S a SAD fact that many of us feel more miserable in winter than in summer.

Some medics say that’s a perfectly natural response to the darker nights and mornings but for a few people, the low light levels can trigger a particular form of depression that is more than just “the winter blues” . . . seasonal affective disorder or SAD.

Andrew Robinson, 34, a medical rep from North Tyneside, believes he is a sufferer.

He admits: “I definitely become more short-tempered, tired and irritable at this time of year. My wife says I’m an absolute pain to be around in the autumn and winter. I feel a real lack of energy and motivation.

“Yet in the summer I feel much more energetic. I’m not a sun-worshipper as I’m fair- skinned but when the days are longer you just feel on top of the world, then as soon as autumn kicks in I think, ‘Oh, here I go again’.”

Louise Gray, from Longhorsley, Northumberland, knows just how he feels.

Louise, 54, who works for South Tyneside Council’s children’s services, says: “I tend to leave for work in the dark and get home in the dark. Everything becomes much more difficult and I feel less like going out and socialising.”

Up to one in 20 people is believed to be affected by SAD, with women three times more likely to be affected than men. Younger people, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 40, are also more likely to suffer.

SAD is more common in northern countries because the days become shorter the further north you go. It is more apparent in places 30 degrees north and above so, with Newcastle at 55 degrees, people in our region are probably more likely to suffer.

Anti-depressants are not thought to help SAD sufferers, but some say lightboxes can help and Louise and Andrew have both been testing their usefulness in an experiment for Radio Newcastle over the past three weeks.

Both have had lightboxes on loan from the SAD Lightbox Company. According to the company — website www.sad.uk.com — research has shown that SAD sufferers respond, often quite dramatically, to bright-light treatment. MD Carol Barksfield said: “Lack of light causes an increase in the production of melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleepy at night, and a reduction of serotonin, the lack of which causes depression. The exposure to bright-light therapy reverses the process, with the additional benefit of being drug free.”

Louise has been using hers on her desk at work for 20 minutes a day.

She says: “I do feel my energy levels are different. But because I’ve had it such a short space of time I don’t know if there’s a psychological element to that. It took a bit of getting used to. I had a headache at first and it’s such a piercingly bright light I didn’t know if I could manage to do it.”

Andrew also reports success. He said: “I don’t get that mid-afternoon lull any more, although I’m still slow to get started in the mornings.”

BBC health correspondent Anne Kostalas has also been roadtesting a lightbox and says she feels better for it. But she added: “I think some people definitely do suffer from it but some doctors have estimated it only affects one in 1000 and it’s massively over-diagnosed.”

How not to be sad

:: MAKE sure you get exposure to plenty of daylight. If you work in a windowless office with artificial light, try to get a walk outside at lunch times.

:: COUNSELLING and exercising help. Boost your mood with rest, relaxation, regular exercise and a healthy diet.

:: LIGHTBOXES provide a regular dose of artificial light each day and help many people.

:: ST JOHN’S WORT can help some people.