Shed Some Light on SAD
Top Five Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Victoria Gehman
Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: Health
Light Therapy
According to Lucille Larney Ph.D., a psychologist in Albany, light therapy has been proven to help treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Using a specific type of fluorescent light for about two hours a day improves the patients' mood significantly. Dr. Larney encourages college students diagnosed with SAD to buy one of these lamps and use it on their desks while writing a paper or doing homework.
Vitamin D
Dr. Larney also suggests that her patients take vitamin D to treat SAD. People lack vitamin D during the winter months due to the decrease of sunlight. A combination of light therapy and vitamin D will usually improve a person's depression from SAD significantly.
Medication
According to Dr. Kyung Chun M.D., a psychiatrist in Albany, Wellbutrin is the only medicine FDA approved for treating SAD. Wellbutrin in a dopamine related antidepressant which increases hormones in the brain that affect SAD. However, Wellbutrin does not work for everyone, Dr. Chun said. Some people experience side effects such as increase in sexual desire, weight loss, and restless sleep. Occasionally, Dr. Chun will prescribe a serotonin related antidepressant, such as Prozac to help treat SAD for people who react negatively to Wellbutrin.
Tanning
Douglas Vine, a 24-year-old counselor and Deborah Elston, a 47-year-old waitress have both been diagnosed with SAD. They both feel that tanning helps them to hold on to the summer months and gives them both a sense of relief from the depressive symptoms they feel during winter. Tanning uses a specific type of light that helps patients suffering from SAD. However, Dr. Larney does not recommend this form of treatment due to the negative effects tanning has on the skin.
Vacation
Dr. Larney also suggests that her patients take a vacation to a sunny place to relieve symptoms of SAD. Even if it's only for a week or two, the increase in sunlight helps patients significantly. Douglas Vine and Deborah Elston both agreed when asked about vacations helping with their symptoms. "I try to plan a trip to Hawaii every winter, Elston said. "It's the best cure for the winter blues!" Vine said that his family would take vacations in the winter and he always came home feeling relief from SAD.
According to Lucille Larney Ph.D., a psychologist in Albany, light therapy has been proven to help treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Using a specific type of fluorescent light for about two hours a day improves the patients' mood significantly. Dr. Larney encourages college students diagnosed with SAD to buy one of these lamps and use it on their desks while writing a paper or doing homework.
Vitamin D
Dr. Larney also suggests that her patients take vitamin D to treat SAD. People lack vitamin D during the winter months due to the decrease of sunlight. A combination of light therapy and vitamin D will usually improve a person's depression from SAD significantly.
Medication
According to Dr. Kyung Chun M.D., a psychiatrist in Albany, Wellbutrin is the only medicine FDA approved for treating SAD. Wellbutrin in a dopamine related antidepressant which increases hormones in the brain that affect SAD. However, Wellbutrin does not work for everyone, Dr. Chun said. Some people experience side effects such as increase in sexual desire, weight loss, and restless sleep. Occasionally, Dr. Chun will prescribe a serotonin related antidepressant, such as Prozac to help treat SAD for people who react negatively to Wellbutrin.
Tanning
Douglas Vine, a 24-year-old counselor and Deborah Elston, a 47-year-old waitress have both been diagnosed with SAD. They both feel that tanning helps them to hold on to the summer months and gives them both a sense of relief from the depressive symptoms they feel during winter. Tanning uses a specific type of light that helps patients suffering from SAD. However, Dr. Larney does not recommend this form of treatment due to the negative effects tanning has on the skin.
Vacation
Dr. Larney also suggests that her patients take a vacation to a sunny place to relieve symptoms of SAD. Even if it's only for a week or two, the increase in sunlight helps patients significantly. Douglas Vine and Deborah Elston both agreed when asked about vacations helping with their symptoms. "I try to plan a trip to Hawaii every winter, Elston said. "It's the best cure for the winter blues!" Vine said that his family would take vacations in the winter and he always came home feeling relief from SAD.