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New research into seasonal depression (SAD)
New research: Light therapy as effective as Prozac in the treatment of seasonal depression - without the side effects.
Results of a three year clinical trial show that Light Therapy is just as effective as the antidepressant, Prozac, in the treatment of Winter Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) without the adverse side affects.
SAD, believed to be caused by lack of exposure to full-spectrum natural light, is now a commonly recognised form of depression which affects an estimated half a million people in the UK.
The recent study, conducted in four Canadian centres over three winter seasons, compared the effectiveness of light therapy and the antidepressant Fluoxetine (Prozac) in the treatment of SAD.
The results of the study showed that both treatments were equally as effective, although those patients exposed to light treatment showed an earlier response onset and a lower rate of some adverse effects relative to Fluoxetine.
With a worrying 3.5 million people in Britain estimated to be on antidepressants, light therapy provides a means to help combat depression in a more natural manner.
Posted
: 06/05/2006 17:48:14
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