Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder Naturally

A bedside device that simulates sunrise may provide relief from the winter depression known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD.

"Negative air ionization" may also be effective.

A new study has shown that the two techniques, when activated toward the end of sleep, are as effective as bright light therapy upon waking up, an established treatment for SAD. Dawn simulation and negative air ionization are more convenient than bright light therapy, which involves sitting at a bright light box for 30 minutes each morning.

In the study, 99 adults with SAD were randomly assigned one of five treatments: dawn simulation, a brief dawn "pulse," bright light therapy, high flow rate negative air ionization, or low flow rate ionization.

Full dawn simulation, high negative air ionization, and bright light therapy were roughly equal in terms of the improvement in SAD symptoms; improvement was seen in between 48 percent and 57 percent of subjects receiving these therapies. In contrast, only 23 percent of those receiving low flow rate ionization showed improvement.

Further, 43 percent of those receiving sunrise pulse treatment showed improvement, but it also exacerbated depressive symptoms in other patients.

Sources:

  American Journal of Psychiatry December 2006; 163(12): 2126-2133

  Reuters January 3, 2007