Sad Lighting

Here are the questions which we are most frequently asked about SAD and Light Therapy.

What is SAD?

SAD is short for Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is also known as the Winter Blues. About 10% of the population suffer to some degree with 2-3% suffering with clinical depression.

What are the symptoms?

Feelings of depression, which can range from just feeling down to deep depression. Other symptoms are lethargy, anxiety and inability to cope with social situations. Sleep problems and lack of libido are also indicators, but one of the most common indicators after the feeling of depression can be the craving for carbohydrates. It has also been shown in studies that people with craving for carbohydrates respond extremely well to light treatment.

How do I know if I’ve got SAD?

If you get the symptoms recurring for two to three years at about the same time every autumn/winter then this would point to the probability that you suffer from SAD.

How does the light therapy work?

The light has to go in through the eye and it travels down the retinohypothalamic path (next to the optic nerve) to the pineal gland deep in the brain. It rebalances the melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy) and the serotonin (the hormone that makes you feel good). At the most basic level it fools the brain into thinking its still summer!

At the recent Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR) it was stated that light therapy is still the best non-drug therapy to treat seasonal depression.

Can I use a light bulb or florescent tube?

No, you simply don’t get the intensity of light that you need with a light bulb or a normal fluorescent tubes. A light bulb it gives only 300 – 350 lux. Recent studies by Dr Norman Rosenthal and others have shown that what you need to treat SAD is a minimum of 2,500 lux, but all our lightboxes emit 10,000 lux. (Lux is a measurement of the intensity of the light.)

Is it Full Spectrum Light?

No, the original studies were done with Full Spectrum Lighting, which they used as the closest light to the natural outdoor light. Newer studies have shown that a very high intensity of light is important, and the natural daylight lamps that we use have a higher light output than full spectrum lamps.

Is it safe?

Yes, all the lightboxes have to be manufactured to comply with the Medical Directive (EC93/42) and carry a medical CE mark. (CE and four numbers, our certification is CE0120). If it does not have this it is probably not a bona fide product which may not have been tested or comply with the Directive

What is the difference between the different lightboxes?

The difference is the number of lights they have and the amount of time that you need to take your treatment. The simple rule is the more lights the less time, so with the Diamond 4 it would take about 20 mins, and with the LitePod it would be about 1 hour. The timing are all based on sitting or working about an arms distance away (about 24 “).

If you sit further away you just have to increase the treatment time to compensate for the extra distance.

Which lightbox do I choose?

Light therapy should be taken as early as possible when you get up, to keep you going through the day. If you have to get out of the house in a rush then you need one with more lights that will give a quicker treatment time such as the Diamond 4 or Silver Lite. However, if you are at home for longer periods during the day then one that you can use for longer is just as effective such as the Diamond 2 or the LitePod.

Do I have to stare at the lightbox?

No, you can carry on with your normal routine with the lightbox on beside you. If you are working it can be beside your computer terminal or on your desk, or if you are at home you could use it while watching TV, ironing or working in the kitchen. It must fit in with your routine to ensure that you use it for the amount of time that is necessary for you. Ideally it should be about an arms distance away from you, within your peripheral vision, not directly in front of you.

I don’t like the flicker!

The lightboxes are all fitted with electronic ballasts (the device that starts the tubes). They ‘chop’ the electric current up into smaller ‘pieces’ to make it appear more even.

(For the more technically minded, with the old magnetic ballast the lamps flicker at 100 times per second, the electronic ballast flicker at 28,000 times per second which is beyond the point of perception.)

How long does it take to work?

This can vary as everyone is an individual. You can usually see the difference within 7 to 10 days, with some people it can be as little as 4 days, but others will take 2-3 weeks. The rule of thumb is that if it takes 7 days for the treatment to be affective then symptoms will recur within 7 days if treatment is stopped.

Who can benefit from light therapy?

They are designed specifically for treatment of winter depression, but people with other forms of depression can be lifted with the light therapy. With Manic Depressives it should not be used during the Manic phase. Sufferers of MS and ME can also benefit as some of the symptoms can replicate those of ME.

How long do the bulbs last?

We recommend that the bulbs are changed every three years, not because they will fail, but all fluorescent tubes degrade with time, and for SAD it is most important to keep the light output high to relieve the symptoms

Where do I get replacements?

It’s best to get them directly from us; we can take and order by phone or on the internet. Your local electrical shop is unlikely to have the right type or colour of tube.

Should I have a spare tube?

It is useful to have a spare tube, although we guarantee them for a year and will replace any that do fail as quickly as possible. If one fails at a weekend or holiday time then you might not have enough light when you need it during the season.

Do they work?

Yes! Research has shown that they are effective in up to 95% of cases. At the factory in High Wycombe we run a 28 day trial on the lightboxes, and we have a 98% success rate.