The Facts:
* Many separate studies prior to this have shown light therapy or antidepressants can produce similar benefits for those with seasonal affective disorder but this study makes a direct comparison of the two treatments.
* Almost 100 people with the disorder received light treatment or antidepressants and results showed a similar effect.
* Light therapy appeared to make a quicker impact with better responses over the first week and produced less side effects.
Shaun’s comment: Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a mood disorder, causing depressive symptoms in the winter. Interestingly, SAD is rarely seen in the tropics, and is almost always in people living at latitudes of ?30°N or S. This study directly compared light therapy and the antidepressive drug fluoxetine. Both treatments were effective but the light therapy had additional benefits of a quicker onset of action and less side effects. For people with SAD, it may be a case of using the treatment which they are most comfortable with.
Study Reference:
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