Phototherapy

Written by Vicki Tillman, M.A. and published on 21-May-2009.

The most common form of treatment for seasonal affective disorder is phototherapy. Phototherapy involves exposure to intense levels of light under controlled conditions. The most common "dosage" is 10,000 lux of light for at least 30 minutes per day.

People with SAD who receive phototherapy usually slow a marked improvement within four or five days. However, the symptoms usually return in about the same amount of time after treatment has been discontinued.

A 30-minute walk outside on a bright day will produce similar results with some additional cardio-vascular benefits. Unfortunately, many days in the winter months do not have agreeable weather for walks or provide enough light to reduce symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

If you need more light than you are able to find during the winter months, consider a full-spectrum UV-filtered light box.