Seasonal Affective Disorder Network (SADnet)

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Iron Mill News Service

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 Diurnal and seasonal rhythms of melatonin, cortisol and testosterone in interior Alaska.

Levine ME, Milliron AN, Duffy LK.

Community Mental Health Services, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska.

The diurnal variations in the secretory patterns of melatonin, cortisol and testosterone were studied in a Fairbanks, Alaska population who were unadapted to the extreme light variations of the North. Statistically significant variations in hormonal levels were found in both diurnal and seasonal rhythms. Prominent findings included unusually high levels of cortisol at 0200 and 0800 in the fall and elevated daytime levels (1030) of melatonin in the winter. These results indicate a delayed phase secretory pattern when compared to the normal pattern at lower latitudes. These findings imply possible underlying physiological causes for the high incidence of behavior disorders such as depression and alcoholism in Alaska and circumpolar environments in general.

PMID: 8048998 PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

For the Full Text of this Article Please click Here

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 SADnet Links

 

Society for Light Treatment & Biological Rhythms -  Aimed at professionals, encourages research and clinical development in light therapy and biological rhythms.

MedlinePlus: Seasonal Affective Disorder Links to websites and organizations dealing with SAD.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Association Information and membership details for the SAD Association (SADA), based in the UK.

Brighten Your Life An online book by a psychiatrist about bright light therapy for depression and sleep.

Seasonal Affective Disorder  NMHA fact sheet describing symptoms and treatment for this affective disorder.

Norman E. Rosenthal  Psychiatrist pioneering in SAD research presents articles, personal comments, and mentions of his books.

Seasonal Affective Disorder  Journal article about SAD details its diagnosis, symptoms, epidemiology, and light therapy.

Center for Environmental Therapuetics Environmental treatments (ie. light therapy) for SAD and other disorders are detailed.

Seasonal Affective Disorders In depth, clinical discussion of SAD, including references (American Academy of Family Physicians).

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Winter Depression - http://www.ncpamd.com/seasonal.htm Discusses the diagnosis and treatment of SAD and related mood and sleep problems.

NOSAD Information on Combating Seasonal Depression -  Basic fact sheet from the National Organization for SAD.

Seasonal Depression and Light Therapy  Article from the UK's National Institute for Medical Research.

Dawn's Early Light to Twilight's Last Gleaming JAMA article on SAD and light treatment. Also mentions other possible applications.

Light Therapy – Procedure for Using the 10,000 Lux Fluorescent Light Box  From a university psychiatry department.

Overcoming SAD  An interview with SAD researcher Norman Rosenthal, MD (WebMD).