There exist several different forms of treatments for seasonal affective disorder. Studies that are constantly being carried out are to find out which of them is the most effective. Each case of SAD should be carefully assessed by the doctor to chose the best form of treatment, because self diagnosis may be accurate, but other conditions and issues also must be evaluated.
Light therapy appeared to be very effective in nearly 85% of SAD cases. In this therapy a patient is exposed to very bright light for up to 4 hours daily: the light in this therapy is 10 times brighter than the light from an ordinary bulb. But it is important to apply this therapy as soon as the first symptoms of this form of depression appear. Light therapy is the standard treatment for SAD, and is recommended by medical institutions such as the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and is also backed by the National Institute of Mental Health.
There is a big advantage of light therapy: it is easy to use and it almost doesn’t cause any side effects. It is very safe- only people with pre-existing eye conditions must be careful. However, there may occur some side effects: a jittery feeling, mild nausea and mild burning of the eyes. These side effects disappear very fast- just after a few sessions of light therapy. But this therapy should only be administered after consultations with a qualified doctor and after a complex diagnosis.
Light therapy deceives the brain into releasing serotonin and stops the release of melatonin. The benefits of therapy are seen after a few days and if the therapy is continued every day the effect persist. Timing is also essential for this therapy. The best time to start the session is when a person wakes up in the morning. It should be followed by a session in the afternoon. Light therapy consists of sitting 2 to 3 feet away from a specially designed light box, placed on a table, which allows the light to shine directly through the eyes. The patient can perform ordinary activities such as reading, working, eating and knitting while stationary in front of the box.
Ordinary light bulbs and fittings are not strong enough to conduct light therapy. Studies prove that only high intensity light can bring a therapeutic effect.
Light therapy is sometimes combined with antidepressant drugs to treat people with SAD. Traditional antidepressant medications or other psychotropic drugs (e.g. lithium and benzodiazepines) are not believed to be useful in the treatment of SAD. Only non-sedative SSRI medications such as sertraline (Lustral), paroxetine (Seroxat) and fluoxetine (Prozac) are effective in dealing with the symptoms of this condition.
Symptoms of SAD may be alleviated by everyday exposure to natural sunlight, especially during the afternoons. By sitting near a window, or walking in the afternoon everybody can feel better over a period of time.
Counseling and psychotherapy are also used to treat SAD. They enables a patient with SAD to relax, accept their fate and learn to cope with it. Counseling also teaches a person how to prevent future depressive episodes.
