From the Guidelines
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) treatment options include Bright Light Therapy and Psychotherapy.
Treatment Options
- Bright Light Therapy: The updated guideline recommends bright light therapy for persons with mild to moderate MDD, regardless of seasonal pattern or seasonal component 1. This can be used in combination with other treatments or as monotherapy for treatment of MDD.
- Psychotherapy: Six forms of psychotherapy are recommended for initial treatment of depression, including acceptance and commitment therapy, behavioral therapy/behavioral activation, CBT, interpersonal psychotherapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and problem-solving therapy 1.
Important Considerations
- Factors such as patient preferences, past experience with treatment, and provider training should be considered when selecting specific approaches 1.
- The benefits of bright light therapy outweighed any potential harm, which led to the recommendation, despite low confidence in the evidence due to notable limitations 1.
From the Research
Treatment Options for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
The treatment options for SAD include:
- Bright light therapy (BLT) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Pharmacological therapies, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 2, 3, 4, 5
- Lifestyle modifications, including:
- Dawn simulation 4
- Cognitive behavior therapy, although its effectiveness is unclear 6
Effectiveness of Treatment Options
- Bright light therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of SAD, with response rates of around 80% in selected patient populations 4, 5
- Pharmacological therapies, such as SSRIs, have also been shown to be effective in treating SAD 3, 4, 5
- Lifestyle modifications may be effective in reducing symptoms of SAD, but the evidence is limited and more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness 2