Sunlight can have effect on mood

While glancing out of her kitchen window one afternoon, the woman felt a rather sudden change of mood. Slight but perceptible, she went from being happy and looking forward to the evening ahead with her family to sensing a vague feeling of dread and unhappiness.

Struck by the sudden change, she went back to the window to see if she could find what triggered this sudden change in emotion. Almost immediately, she noticed the long shadows produced by the earlier setting sun of late October. She knew immediately that her mood change was somehow related to the change of seasons.

Reflecting further on this problem, she realized that other changes were also occurring.

During this time of year she struggled more to maintain her desired weight because her craving for cookies, cake and other calorie-laden carbohydrates increased.
She felt less energetic and more lethargic during winter months. She wanted to sleep more and frequently experienced daytime fatigue and loss of concentration.
During this time of year, until the arrival of spring with its longer days, her family described her as being more moody, pessimistic and, at times, noticeably depressed. Also she tended to avoid social activities during this time of year, especially during the evening and at night.

The cause of this bothersome and sometimes almost disabling problem is sunlight deprivation. Researchers suspect that varying levels of light influence brain chemistry related to mood.

This problem afflicts about 10 million Americans. Some experts think the syndrome is more prevalent in northern latitudes. Many experts feel that this problem, labeled seasons affective disorder (SAD), is genetic.

Differing from other types of depression, where life changes with associated stresses is involved; SAD is related to a decrease in daily exposure to sunlight.

According to a recent report in the Archives of General Psychiatry, about 60 percent of SAD sufferers who received concentrated doses of bright light in the morning improved dramatically within a matter of days. The use of light treatment for this problem has been ongoing for about 10 years. Patients often sit in front of a box that generates bright light for one to one and a half hours per day, usually in the mornings.

A professional assessment should be performed to establish the diagnosis of SAD, with resulting recommendations and suggestions for remedying this problem.

Copyright c 1998 Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D.