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CamW · Nov 11, 2003, 03:30 PM

Rapunzel - Here are "my" ideas about the following therapies.

1) Light Therapy - There does seem to be noticeable improvement in those with SAD (seasonal affecive disorder), but I have seen little encouraging evidence for it's use in treating other variations of the syndrome of depression.

Using Light in Treating SAD --->>>

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a) Season Affective Disorder (SAD) - SAD is being recognized as a true sub-type of major depressive disorder (I think). If I had to guess, I'd say that "cabin fever" may have been loneliness exacerbated SAD (just thinking out loud).

Some Reliable Stuff About SAD --->>>

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2) St. John's Wort (SJW) - this drug is recommended to those with mild to moderate depression. It should not be used in major depressive disorder, nor in bipolar disorder.

Researchers (incl. government - Health Canada, NIMH, etc.) are starting to scientifically study SJW using the good old (good, but not perfect) large-scale, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Mild to moderate depressions usually do not require medications (ie. antidepressants). Talk therapies, with a psychologist or a counsellor (depending upon situation and needs) are very useful in mild to moderate depression.

My psychologist; who wrote her PhD thesis on grief after loss of a child. I wish that I had met here 10 years ago. She has shown me why I do what I do, and if I wasn't such a "stodgie old proot" I'd work more these areas.

A good therapist is able to get to the core of your problem, but even the best therapist cannot "make" you better; nor can just taking an anti-depressant "fix a depression". The hardest work, as usual is done by the person with the least amount of energy, those with depression.

Enough of my yapping. Here is NIMH's position on St.John's Wort (NIMH = National Institutes of Mental Health - US)

- Cam