Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is characterized by the onset or intensification of depressive symptoms with the changing seasons. Although there are two seasonality types of SAD, winter and summer, winter SAD is far more prevalent than the summer type, and encompasses a more severe symptomology. According to one report, winter onset SAD affects a range of 1.4% to 9.7% of Americans depending on latitude (Roecklein, & Rohan, 2005). Another report claims that 6% of the general population is affected by the disorder. Bright light therapy (BLT) is commonly used worldwide to treat SAD. (Targum & Rosenthal, 2008).
Literature Review
Concerned that a large proportion of patients being underserved, Pjrek, Winkler, Stastny, Konstantinidis, Heiden, & Kasper, 2004, sought to assess the effectiveness of bright light therapy. For this study, participants who had been previously diagnosed with SAD were chosen by method of chart review from university’s Vienna clinic. To qualify for the study, clients had to have a Global Seasonality Score of 10 or higher. Clients with Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder (SSAD), determined by a GSS <10, were excluded. Of the final 378 participants, 77.4% had a diagnosis for unipolar depression, 20.1% …show more content…
However, the design of this study differed significantly from the one previously mentioned. To control for spontaneous remittance, a placebo, in the form of a 3-week wait-list, was incorporated into the trial. Participants (n=50), diagnosed with SAD or SSAD as determined by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - Seasonal Affective Disorders (SIGH-SAD), were randomly assigned to treatment or the wait-list. After the three week wait-list period, participants assigned to the wait-list group received treatment. No statistically significant differences existed between the baseline characteristics of the
Literature Review
Concerned that a large proportion of patients being underserved, Pjrek, Winkler, Stastny, Konstantinidis, Heiden, & Kasper, 2004, sought to assess the effectiveness of bright light therapy. For this study, participants who had been previously diagnosed with SAD were chosen by method of chart review from university’s Vienna clinic. To qualify for the study, clients had to have a Global Seasonality Score of 10 or higher. Clients with Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder (SSAD), determined by a GSS <10, were excluded. Of the final 378 participants, 77.4% had a diagnosis for unipolar depression, 20.1% …show more content…
However, the design of this study differed significantly from the one previously mentioned. To control for spontaneous remittance, a placebo, in the form of a 3-week wait-list, was incorporated into the trial. Participants (n=50), diagnosed with SAD or SSAD as determined by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - Seasonal Affective Disorders (SIGH-SAD), were randomly assigned to treatment or the wait-list. After the three week wait-list period, participants assigned to the wait-list group received treatment. No statistically significant differences existed between the baseline characteristics of the