Which SAD Treatment Works Best

If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you may feel sad or anxious during the fall and winter months. Other symptoms include weight gain and sleeping more than usual, as well as losing interest in activities.

SAD affects more women than men. Between 60 and 90% of the people diagnosed with SAD are women.

A diagnosis may be made if you’ve experienced symptoms during the fall and winter, but recovered with seasonal changes for at least two years in a row. Some people even experience SAD during the summer months instead of the fall and winter (reverse SAD).

SAD may be treated with light therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Other treatments include the use of antidepressants and other forms of counseling.

The University of Vermont recently reported findings from a SAD study that compared the use of light therapy, CBT, or a combination of the two treatments. Researchers found that one year after treatment, participants treated with CBT had a 7% recurrence rate of SAD compared to a 36.7% recurrence rate for light therapy treatment. Participants in the combination group had a 5.5% rate of recurrence. Those treated with CBT had less severe depression than those treated with light therapy or a combo of CBT and light therapy.

Researchers contribute the lower success rate of light therapy with the commitment that it requires of patients and the resulting low compliance rate. To comply with therapy, participants had sit in front of a light box for 30 minutes each day.

If you suffer from SAD, what treatments have worked for you?

(Image via flickr/Evil Erin)