Light for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Light therapy is a treatment used to relieve symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that worsens in the fall and winter months. Although the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved light box therapy, doctors often recommend the treatment as an alternative to prescribing drugs.

Function

• The purpose of light therapy is to address the problem of seasonal affective disorder by creating an actual biochemical reaction in the brain, thereby relieving depression without drugs; the patient simply is exposed to bright light from a light therapy box.

Types

• Various types of light therapy boxes are available, including those that use white light (the standard type), blue light or LEDs (light-emitting diodes).

Considerations

• Portability, the amount of light emitted, the type of light, options like a dawn simulator and the cost of the box are all considerations that should be discussed with a doctor before purchasing a light box and beginning therapy.

Cautions

• The Food and Drug Administration has not approved light therapy; some light boxes do not filter out ultraviolet light.

Benefits

• There are few side effects when using light boxes. Treatment can take place at the patient's home, and it is possible that drug treatment can be avoided through the use of a light box.