Feeling Better in the Summer?
By Jay M. Pomerantz, M.D.

Summer, and its good weather, is a pleasant time for most people. Although many people attribute their summertime good spirits to the increase in temperature, science points to increased daylight as the helpful factor.

There is scant literature about the beneficial effects of light because its effects cannot be labeled and packaged. Pharmaceutical companies naturally will advertise antidepressant medication, but not light, to consumers and doctors. There is, however, a very important syndrome called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD shows up as annual episodes of depression beginning in the fall or winter and lasting until the spring. The typical pattern is a lowering of spirits, lack of energy, sleepiness, overeating, weight gain, and a craving for sugars and starches. SAD is somewhat more common in women than in men and usually begins in early adulthood. It often makes other chronic medical problems much worse.

Although antidepressant medication works as well for SAD as for other depressions, light treatment works even better. Within 5 days of using a special fluorescent light for about 20 minutes each morning, most people with SAD feel much better. Individuals then continue the light program throughout the winter. In the spring, when there are more hours of daylight, the supplemental light treatment can be discontinued. Some therapists have a special light box for patients to try out in the fall. If the depression and other symptoms go away, then the patient can buy a light for home use that will provide for years of freedom from SAD during the fall and winter months.

You can arrange an evaluation through your doctor or directly from Health New England by calling the mental health line at 787-4000 or 800-842-4464, ext. 5020.

---

Dr. Pomerantz practices psychiatry in Longmeadow, Mass., and is a Lecturer on Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass.