Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240083
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID BUTLER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: Before electric lights were invented, our lives were governed by the sun - active by day, inactive by night. The body's internal clock has presumably been programmed into our genetic code over the millennia. However, circadian (daily) rhythms are only one facet of our innate response to the sun. Recorded history is replete with metaphors that link our emotional well-being to the seasons.
The effects of the seasons were well known in ancient times but were all but abandoned by modern medical practitioners - that is, until recently. In studies that began in the early '80s, the National Institute of Mental Health and others have documented a type of depression that has come to be known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.
Although most of us experience some alteration in mood or behavior with the changing seasons, only about 6 percent of the population suffers from SAD. The distinction is a matter of degree - the lives of SAD sufferers are disrupted to such an extent that medical treatment is necessary.
Since a lack of light is the primary catalyst, it comes as no surprise that SAD is more prevalent during winter months. Likewise, Northerners are at greater risk than Southerners. Symptoms include lethargy, inability to concentrate, loss in productivity, difficulty waking up and increased appetite. Since these symptoms mimic other types of depression, only a doctor can make a proper diagnosis.
Light therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for SAD as well as for milder forms of seasonal depression, often referred to as "winter blues." In fact, most patients improve in less than a week! Light therapy can also help shift workers and windowless office workers. These people often suffer from SAD-like symptoms throughout the year, especially if they don't get much sunlight through other activities.
Most light therapy is carried out using regular fluorescent tubes (except with special provisions to block ultraviolet and cathode radiation). Light therapists initially used "full spectrum" or daylight tubes to treat SAD patients. However, subsequent studies have shown that the intensity of the light is far more important than the type of bulb.
The minimum intensity needed for therapeutic effect is 2,500 lux - five to 10 times brighter than a well-lit office! Since it would be impractical to light a room to this level, SAD patients are treated with special light boxes positioned close to the face. The enclosure has a reflector to concentrate the light and a diffusing screen to spread the light evenly. Some boxes produce up to 10,000 lux, allowing daily treatment time to be cut to an hour or less.
People suffering from light deprivation are often tempted to buy a light box and administer their own treatment. Although a properly designed box can do little harm, its considerable cost ($350 to $500) may go to waste without the careful supervision of a qualified specialist. Now that light therapy is no longer experimental, many insurance companies will pick up the cost.
To receive a list of companies that manufacture high-intensity light boxes and broad spectrum light bulbs, please send $1.50 and a self-addressed envelope to David Butler F-445, Department TWN, 14713 Pleasant Hill Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28278-7927. The list includes toll-free phone numbers, a summary of each company's products, and a bibliography of books and articles on SAD and light therapy.
Reader Tip: If your stereo develops a problem that only affects one channel (e.g., the left channel is distorted or cuts in and out), follow this simple procedure to determine which component is bad: First switch the receiver between radio, tape or CD. If the problem persists, switch the speaker wires from left to right and right to left. If the problem reverses channels, you have a bad receiver. If not, you have a bad speaker or speaker connection.
by CNB