Does light therapy work for winter blues and SANS, or just for SAD?
MT: “Light therapy helps wih SAD and winter blues. Clinically, we have also seen patients with SANS respond well to light therapy, but there have been no formal clinical trials as of yet. LD: You have said that people with winter blues can treat themselves with various light products, but that those with full-blown SAD should do so only with the help of a professional. How would people know whether they have SAD or winter blues? MT: “It is hard for any individual to know for sure whether the changes they are feeling in fall and winter are clinically significant. For that reason, [the not-for-profit organization Center for Environmental Therapeutics (CET)] developed an online, confidential self-test (the Personal Inventory for Depression and SAD) to measure the degree of seasonal cycling and its severity, and recommend that people get professional help if indicated.” LD: How can people with SAD on Long Island find professional help from experts trained in light therapy? MT: “The Center
