Though antidepressants are of value, the cornerstone of treatment for SAD is light therapy.
Light therapy comes in all sizes, colors and intensities.
Although Rosenthal's original experiments used full-spectrum fluorescent tubes, his later research showed that light from incandescent and halogen bulbs was just as effective. No one bulb is definitely better than another. Even intensity may not matter. Amount of exposure time is also unclear. A typical treatment strategy begins with having the patient set up a light box on a table to sit directly in front of while eating breakfast or reading the newspaper.