Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Surface Facial Electromyography, Skin Conductance, And Self-Reported Emotional Responses To Light- And Season-Relevant Stimuli In Seasonal Affective Disorder, Kathryn Tierney Lindsey, Kelly J. Rohan, Kathryn A. Roecklein, Jennifer N. Mahon

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Background: Learned associations between depressive behavior and environmental stimuli signaling low light availability and winter season may play a role in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether light and season environmental cues elicit emotional responses that are distinct in individuals with SAD.

Methods: Twenty-four currently depressed SAD participants were compared to 24 demographicallymatched controls with no depression history on emotional responses to outdoor scenes captured under two light intensity (i.e., clear, sunny vs. overcast sky) and three season (i.e., summer with green leaves, fall with autumn foliage, and winterwith bare trees) conditions. Emotion …

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Light Therapy, And Their Combination In Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder, Kelly J. Rohan, Kathryn Tierney Lindsey, Katheryn A. Roecklein, Timothy J. Lacy

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Background: The need to develop supplementary or alternative treatments for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is underscored by the significant minority (47%) of SAD patients that is refractory to light therapy, the persistence of residual symptoms despite light treatment, and poor long-term compliance with light use. Because preliminary studies suggest that cognitive and behavioral factors are involved in SAD, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) warrants investigation as a possible treatment option. Methods: We piloted a 6-week randomized clinical trial to compare a standard light therapy protocol; a novel, SAD-tailored, group CBT intervention; and their combination in ameliorating and remitting a current SAD episode …