Are there any other treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Talking treatments
Talking treatments, such as counselling, psychotherapy or cognitive behaviour therapy, can be extremely useful in helping people to cope with symptoms. They also help to uncover other factors that may be contributing to your problem, and enable you to do something about them.
Talking treatments are not always available on the NHS, although there may be a counselling service attached to your GP practice. Various organisations offer low-fee schemes.
Antidepressants
In severe cases of SAD, SSRI antidepressants, such as paroxetine (Seroxat), sertraline (Lustral) and fluoxetine (Prozac), which increase the activity of serotonin, have proved successful (see 'Low serotonin levels' under 'What causes SAD?' above). They can be combined with light treatment. Older antidepressants such as amitriptyline, imipramine and dothiepin are less commonly used nowadays and more problematic, because they increase symptoms like sleepiness. (See Mind's booklet Making sense of antidepressants for information about side effects and withdrawal.) www.mind.org.uk
Medical Disclaimer - The information supplied in this site is not intended as medical advice. If you have any questions concerning any topics or treatments in these documents, you should seek the advice of your doctor, particularly if you are suffering from depression, have any medical or eye problems or are on medication that effects the eyes.
