Alternative medicine (1)
- Treatment-resistant depression
Coping and support (1)
- Depression: Supporting a family member or friend
Lifestyle and home remedies (2)
- Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms
- Seasonal affective disorder treatment: Choosing a light box
Risk factors (1)
- Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap
Treatments and drugs (10)
- Atypical antidepressants
- Light therapy
- Dealing with depression
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Seasonal affective disorder treatment: Choosing a light box
Light therapy boxes can offer an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder. Features such as light intensity, safety, cost and style are important considerations.
By Mayo Clinic staffSeasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that typically occurs each year during fall and winter. Light therapy boxes can offer effective treatment for SAD. Light box therapy may be effective on its own. Or, light therapy may be more effective when it's combined with another SAD treatment, such as an antidepressant medication or psychological counseling (psychotherapy).
Light therapy boxes for SAD treatment are also known as light boxes, bright light therapy boxes and phototherapy boxes.
All light boxes for SAD treatment are designed do the same thing, but one may work better for you than another. Be sure to consult with your doctor so that you get a light therapy box that best suits your needs.
Understanding a light box
A light box mimics outdoor light. Researchers believe this type of light causes a chemical change in the brain that lifts your mood and eases other symptoms of SAD. Most people use light boxes for a minimum of 30 minutes each morning.
You can buy a light box over the counter, or your doctor may recommend a specific light box. Most health insurance plans do not cover the cost.
Light boxes, available from stores and Internet retailers, come in different shapes and sizes and have varied features. They also produce different types and intensities of light. Light boxes are designed to be safe and effective, but they aren't approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so it's important to understand your options.
Next page(1 of 2)
- AskMayoExpert. What is light therapy for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and winter blues? Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2013.
- AskMayoExpert. Are there risks associated with use of light box therapy for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter blues? Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2013.
- AskMayoExpert. What are some basic recommendations for using light therapy (e.g., when and how to start and stop, how many minutes per day, how to properly position the light box)? Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2013.
- Gordijn MC, et al. The effects of blue-enriched light treatment compared to standard light treatment in Seasonal Affective Disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2012;136:72.
- Reeves GM, et al. Improvement in depression scores after 1 hour of light therapy treatment in patients with seasonal affective disorder. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2012;200:51.
- Kurlansik SL, et al. Seasonal affective disorder. American Family Physician. 2012;86:1037.
- Auger RR (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb.19, 2013.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb.14, 2013.
- Baczynska K, et al. Efficacy and ocular safety of bright light therapy lamps. Lighting Research and Technology. 2013;45:40.
- Seasonal affective disorder. National Alliance on Mental Illness. http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Seasonal_Affective_Disorder_(SAD).htm. Accessed Feb. 25, 2013.
- Center for Environmental Therapeutics. http://cet.org/eng/FAQ_ENG.html#Q13. Accessed Mar.1, 2013.
- Radiation-Emitting Products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/ucm135878.htm. Accessed Mar. 1, 2013.
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