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Treatments for Seasonal affective disorder
INFORMATIVE 
Tags: seasonal affective disorder, depression, mental health, diseases and conditions, advice, winter depression, mood disorder, treatments
Treatment of seasonal affective disorder can be done by Light therapy, Medication and Psychotheraphy.
| | Light therapy: This is the main treatment for many people with winter depression. In light therapy, you sit a few feet from a |
| | special lamp that's 10 to 20 times brighter than are ordinary indoor lights for 30 or more minutes each day, usually in the |
| | morning. You can do other activities, such as reading or eating breakfast, while sitting in front of the light. |
| | Light therapy is easy to administer and has relatively few side effects. Nearly 70 percent of people experience a reduction |
| | of their symptoms from daily light therapy, and about 50 percent experience remission while undergoing light therapy. Light |
| | therapy needs to be done daily until springtime, when the sun shines for a longer period during the day. Lights from tanning |
| | beds can't be used for light therapy, because tanning beds use potentially damaging ultraviolet light. |
| | Medication: Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant medication in combination with light therapy, or as an alternative, |
| | if light therapy isn't working. About 70 percent of people taking antidepressants have decreased symptoms, and about half |
| | experience remission while taking medication. Summer depression may also be treated with antidepressants. |
| | Examples of antidepressants include paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) and venlafaxine |
| | (Effexor). |
| | The duration of treatment with medications varies. On the basis of your history of SAD, your doctor may suggest you start |
| | medication before the time your signs and symptoms usually develop and continue the medication beyond the time the signs and |
| | symptoms usually abate. This may be from the middle of fall to the middle of spring. If you have a double depression, in |
| | which an underlying depression is complicated during the winter by SAD, your doctor may prescribe treatment with medication |
| | for a longer period. |
| | Psychotherapy helps you identify and modify negative thoughts and behaviors that may play a role in bringing about signs and |
| | symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. You and your psychiatrist or psychologist may also talk about ways to reduce stress |
| | in your life. |
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BobbysWorld
Source:
Compiled by LAL Editor
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