Although SAD research began in the United States in 1970 with Herb Kern, a research engineer who suffered from SAD, Norman Rosenthal, a psychiatrist and researcher, was the first to report SAD, classify it, and develop light therapy.
Growing up and living in Johannesburgh, South Africa, when he moved to the northeastern United States he became curious about his decreased energy and productivity among other feelings.
Consequently, he began looking into it.
Diagnosing SAD Similar to depression, SAD is a type of recurrent depression that begins in the fall and abates in the spring.
To be diagnosed with SAD, a few qualifiers need to be met.
There must be a seasonal pattern to the depressive episodes for two consecutive years.
Secondly, seasonal episodes of depression must outnumber non-seasonal episodes during a person's lifetime.
Lastly, the diagnosis can not be used if the depressive episode can be related to other life stressors.
Cause of SAD It's believed that Seasonal Affective Disorder is caused by reduced light in the fall and winter.
Through photoreceptors on the retina, our eyes receive and sense sunlight.
This sunlight can affect our levels of brain chemicals, especially melatonin and serotonin.
As the levels of melatonin and serotonin begin to fall, we experience the symptoms of SAD.
Symptoms of SAD Like depression, many symptoms of SAD are similar.
They include:
- Carbohydrate cravings for sweets and starches
- Weight gain
- Sleeping too much and other sleep disorders
- Feelings of hopelessness and despair
- Social withdraw
- Irritability and anxieity
- Difficulty concentatrating and processing information
Anti-depressants, SAD light therapy, negative ion generators, and cognitive behavioral therapy or a combination of these therapies have been used.
However, most of these treatments, treat the symptoms not the cause.
On the other hand, SAD light therapy actually treats the cause, a lack of light.
Considering light therapy has been found to be just as effective as anti-depressants without the undesirable side effects, it has become of very popular type of treatment.
With SAD light therapy, one of the biggest problems in compliance is the inconvenience of having to sit near a light box or lamp for thirty minutes every morning.
However, nowadays, with the invention of the Feel Bright Light Visor and SAD lights that attach to your computer monitor, SAD sufferers can do other things they enjoy during the light therapy.