According to a new survey [1] carried out by Lumie, an estimated 4,241,111 people in the UK are now thought to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The results, generated from a recent ICM survey, also show that the number of people thought to be affected by the milder form of the disorder, known as the winter blues has grown to 10,299,841 sufferers.

SAD is caused by the lack of bright light in the winter. The exact reasons as to why some people suffer and some don’t, still remain a mystery, but research has shown that nerve centres in the brain respond to the amount of light entering through the eye, and this process controls our daily rhythms and moods.

As night falls, the pineal gland starts to produce a substance called melatonin and this tells our body clock that it’s night time. Bright light at daybreak signals to the gland to stop producing melatonin so that we don’t feel drowsy during the day and it’s during the winter months, especially when we’re indoors, that not enough light is received to trigger this waking process.

Another contributing factor thought to affect SAD is low serotonin levels (also a common feature in those with depression). Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that responds to the levels of light, so when it’s dark, grey and overcast outside, people can be left feeling low. Further research released today also suggests that lack of light exposure on short winter days might also make proteins which clear the brain of serotonin more active.

SAD can be present from September through to April, often being worse during the darker, shorter months from December through to February. Symptoms may vary, but can often consist of sleep problems, weight gain, depression, anxiety, loss of libido, mood swings and lethargy. For some, the mood disorder can be so severe that even the most straightforward of tasks is unthinkable.

With the new figures out, revealing that around one in four of us could suffer from either SAD or the winter blues, the lack of light available this season could be set to cause misery for millions unless treatment is sought.

Dawn simulators

This winter, Lumie is adding brand new products to its already popular dawn simulator range, offering a light therapy option that recent scientific evidence [2] has proven to be an effective form of non-pharmaceutical treatment for both SAD and the winter blues.

Dawn simulators work by recreating the rising of the sun. They use the body’s natural response to light, helping people feel more refreshed, alert and ready to go. Experts also believe that dawn simulation can help reset the body’s natural 24 hour cycle, to leave people feeling ready for sleep when it’s night.

Bright light therapy

As well as a new collection of dawn simulators, Lumie also offers a wide selection of bright light therapy devices - all of which have been scientifically proven to alleviate mood disoders such as SAD and the winter blues.

Bright lights deliver lots of bright light and can be used to provide an extra supplement on those dark, miserable days. Research has found that around 20-30 minutes exposure is the quickest treatment time possible for people using a powerful light. Alternatively, a less powerful light can be used for longer at around one to two hours a day; perhaps in the morning, then again in the evening (but not within two to three hours of sleeping).

Vikki Revell, Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Human Chronobiology Group, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, said: “We all know that light is essential for us to be able to see but what is often less well appreciated is the profound effect that light has on our physiology and behaviour. Light can act directly on specific brain areas to influence our mood and level of alertness, our ability to perform simple tasks and the levels of certain hormones. Perhaps one of the most important non-visual effects of light is its ability to synchronise our circadian body clock, which drives daily rhythms, to local time. This co-ordination is essential to our health and well-being; consider the negative symptoms that you suffer during jet lag which are a direct result of your clock being out of sync with local time.

“Light therapy has repeatedly been demonstrated to be effective at alleviating the symptoms of SAD. During the winter months the reduced amount of environmental light, in particular morning light, may result in our circadian clock losing track of the 24-hour day. This could result in jet lag like symptoms where it is harder to wake up in the morning and you feel sleepy and low during the day. Morning light therapy can help reduce these symptoms as it provides a strong daily time cue to your circadian clock and keeps it co-ordinated to local time. Alternatively, the positive effects of light therapy could be due to increases in serotonin levels and hence, an improvement in mood. Researchers in our field continue to investigate which colour, duration and intensity of light are most effective for these non-visual effects of light with the ultimate aim to make light therapy as efficient and easy to use as possible.”

Amanda Cross, a spokesperson for SADA, said, “Many people find autumn a difficult time of the year, with summer seemingly a distant memory. For some, this can bring the onset of a medical condition called SAD, which is a form of depression that occurs during the winter.

“The Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA), is a charity which provides support to people with SAD. We encourage those who think they may be suffering from it, to contact us as we can recommend a number of ways to help treat the condition, such as:

• Light therapy - Using a specially designed ‘light box’ has been shown to be effective in treating SAD symptoms
• Some people may also find anti-depressants or counselling helpful – speak to your GP about these options
• Getting outdoors during daylight as much as possible will help
• Exercise and maintaining a balanced diet will help to look after your mental health
• Listen to your body – if you feel slower during the winter then try not to overdo it

“The most important thing for people to remember though is that they’re not alone. There are many organisations, charities and treatments available that can help get people’s lives back on track and we’re here to help with that.”

ENDS

If you would like further results from the 2008 Lumie survey, press samples or visuals of any light therapy products available from the Lumie range, including light, dawn simulators and visors, please contact the press office on 01954 780 500 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please also contact the press office should you require case studies, research papers or contact with academic specialists.

Notes to editors:

2008 Lumie survey: ICM interviewed a random sample of 3072 adults aged 18+ from ICM’s online panel between August 2007 and Mar ch 2008. Panelists were recruited from across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk

2 Controlled trial of naturalistic dawn simulation and negative air ionisation for seasonal affective disorder, Teman M, Terman JS, Department of Biopsychology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA

3 The University of Toronto study appears in Archives of General Psychiatry: Seasonal Variation in Human Brain Serotonin Transporter Binding, Nicole Praschak-Rieder, MD; Matthaeus Willeit, MD; Alan A. Wilson, PhD; Sylvain Houle, MD, PhD; Jeffrey H. Meyer, MD, PhD

About Lumie:

Lumie is Europe’s market leader in light therapy and produces a range of quality products, including dawn simulators, light and visors, all of which are certified as medical devices. Light therapy provides relief to sufferers of mood disorders (such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the winter blues), boosts energy levels, improves sleep patterns and corrects body clock problems such as jet lag.

Created in 2002, Lumie is a trademarked brand belonging to Outside In (Cambridge) Ltd, a company with over 17 years experience in light therapy that pioneered the first ever dawn simulator. Lumie quickly grew as a brand, providing a refreshing new look and approach to the market by using scientific expertise, product innovation and customer feedback. In 2007, it was decided that all Outside In products should become Lumie branded to provide greater clarity to the consumer.

Lumie has earned the respect of the medical profession by constantly evolving its portfolio of products based on new developments in scientific evidence and clinical trials. It is a massive success in the mainstream health and wellbeing arena and the Bodyclock range is fast-becoming the world’s best-selling form of light therapy. As well, Lumie also prides itself on providing the highest level of personalised care to its customers, through its customer care team and with the internet forum.

Lumie products are currently available by logging onto www.lumie.com, by calling 01954 780 500 or through nationwide stockists including Boots and John Lewis.

The SAD Association is a voluntary organisation and registered charity which informs the public and health professions about SAD and supports and advises sufferers of the illness.

SADA is the world's longest surviving support organisation for Seasonal Affective Disorder and currently has around,300 members. During an average winter SADA can expect to receive around 1,000 enquiries every week, from all over the world. It produces a newsletter three times a year and other publications, holds meetings and raises money for research into SAD.

SADA receives no government funding. In order to continue our work and provide sufferers with information, advice and support, we are obliged to charge for the information pack and membership. For further information, please contact SADA, PO Box 989, Steyning, BN44 3HG or visit www.sada.org.uk.