Links to related Web sites are posted. Descriptive information about light treatment for SAD and various other disorders are posted on the Web site of Lightbox Company of New England , started by a clinical psychologist committed to the treatment of biological rhythm disorders. No goods, fees, or services were exchanged for this or any other Web site listing. Whether it's transcontinental flight, a daylight savings clock change, shift work or old age, changes in light, life styles, and a reduction of sunlight exposure is well known for bringing about sleepless nights. Related symptoms associated with insufficient or changes in light are jetlag, eating disorders, and depression.
Light seems to influence our appetite, sex drive, and temperature.
Shorter days and longer nights also sway our emotions. Sufferers of seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD and winter depression, report mood and body changes that medical professionals validate as a very real health problem. The American Psychiatric Association categorizes SAD as a subtype of major depression, but occuring only during specific times of the year. Although it is not confined to a particular sex, SAD is overwhelmingly diagnosed in women, by a ratio to men of 3 to 1. All of these may benefit from light therapy.