Posted by jrbecker on October 19, 2004, at 14:37:25
In reply to Re: News: Light Therapy as Effective as Prozac for SAD, posted by SLS on October 19, 2004, at 11:17:38
> It was my impression that, for properly diagnosed seasonal affective disorder, light-box therapy was substantially more effective than antidepressants. Have you ever read anything supporting this?
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> - ScottUnfortunately I'm not well educacted on the condition of SAD, but I wouldn't be surprised to know that most antidepressants aren't as effective for SAD as light therapy.
But I guess the big question is what drugs [besides fluoxetine] did past trials actually compare to light therapy. Considering that seasonal affective disorder's core symptomology is increased eating and lethargy, I'm not surprised to hear that most antidepressants aren't really that efficacious. However, I wonder how Wellbutrin or more stimulating meds stack up to light therapy. Wellbutrin is actually undergoing clinical trials for SAD, so I'm sure there will be some data that comes out of that.
I guess I should note that light therapy modestly helps my own atypical symptoms during the darker/colder months.
But getting outside rather than sitting in front of the light box seems to do me a lot more good [probably b/c of the exercise as well]. One study found that two-and-a-half hours under a lightbox is equal to one hour outside in the winter sun. So get outside!!
http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/27.cfm
Of note, I also read that SAD symptoms aren't just brought on by lack of light, but also by the brain's reduced temperature in the area of the brain responsible for the circadian rhythym [the SCN]. So it's important to bundle up -- especially your head.
poster:jrbecker
thread:404672
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041018/msgs/404771.html