[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="j0174035" style='width:73.5pt;height:57pt;visibility:visible; mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="home_files/image003.gif" o:title="j0174035"/> </v:shape><![endif]

Optimized for
 

Ó 2009, Dr. R.W. Lam

Last revised Sep/2009

We subscribe to the of the .

The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician.

This site is funded entirely by the UBC Hospital Mood Disorders Centre. There is no commercial funding or advertising.

Confidentiality of data relating to individual patients and visitors, including their identity, is respected by this Web site. We undertake to honour or exceed the legal requirements of medical/health information privacy.

Welcome to the UBC Hospital Mood Disorders Centre

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Information Page

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is also called Winter Depression,
as in this haiku (by Dr. Lam):

Dark and Cold and Sad

Bleak till the promise of Spring

Winter depression.

                                  Just Published!
                                  A new book by Drs. Lam and Tam

FOR THE PUBLIC

► Watch Dr. Lam’s Public Lectures on YouTube!
        …..  

► Frequently Asked Questions about SAD and Light Therapy

► Instructions for using a light box

► How to get a light device

► Insurance reimbursement for light devices

► Downloadable pdf files 

►  LED devices for light therapy

►  What research studies are we doing?

►   link

► , link to Dr. Kripke’s eBook.

FOR PHYSICIANS AND MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS

►  A Clinician’s Guide to Using Light Therapy – a new treatment manual
        published in 2009.

►   Clinicians’ Resource Package – Updated! Get most of the materials
       available on our site in one free download.

►  Article from Annals of Clinical Psychiatry: Update for SAD (2007)
         – pdf file

►  Article from CNS Spectrums: Long Term Treatment of SAD (2007)
         – pdf file

► Light therapy vs. antidepressants scientific article (2006) – pdf file
         A Canadian study finds that light therapy is as effective as
         fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating SAD, but with fewer side effects.

► Update on the Biology of SAD scientific article (2005) – pdf file

► Pathophysiology of SAD scientific article (2000) – pdf file

► Clinical Guidelines for the Treatment of SAD (1999) – pdf file

►   – link

Having trouble reading pdf files on the site? Download the free reader: