Are there any benefits to using a daylight SAD lamp? A GP explains
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but it’s often linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during shorter days. Some people find that a light box, called an SAD lamp, can help. These produce a very bright light to simulate sunlight. This is thought to encourage your brain to reduce melatonin (the hormone that makes us sleepy). Light therapy has been associated with a reduction in fatigue on a short-term basis. However in 2019, Cochrane (the global independent research network whose reviews are considered the gold standard for research) published a systematic review of light therapy for SAD , and concluded that the quality of evidence about whether light therapy prevents winter depression is very low. However, some studies have found it’s effective for treatment during a SAD phase, especially first thing in the morning. It’s worth bearing in mind that it can take a...