EFFECTS OF WAVELENGTH ON SEASONAL DEPRESSION

在任何时候，大约6%的美国人都处于 严重的抑郁症。最近，一种名为季节性的特殊综合症 悲伤的情感障碍已被正式描述。具体来说，SAD 以反复出现的秋季和冬季抑郁症状为特征 心境恶劣、疲劳、社交退缩、性欲减退、碳水化合物 渴求、体重增加和嗜睡。明亮的白光可以用来 缓解SAD的症状。最常见的是，光疗一直是 使用广谱、模拟日光、荧光灯执行 在2,000到2,500勒克斯(2.3 x 10 15光子/cm2/秒)。以前的研究 表示来自可见光两端的受限带宽 光谱(蓝色和红色)本身无法产生 光的抗抑郁作用。这意味着要么中间派 可见光谱的一部分是光的更活跃的成分 逆转SAD，或者必须同时使用整个频谱来 减轻了SAD。这项研究的主要目的是确定 两种不同限制物的相对生物学效应和治疗作用 可见光谱光的带宽；绿色荧光灯(501-550 nm 半峰值带宽)。将对患者进行两项相关研究 被诊断出患有自闭症。第一项研究旨在确定 等光子密度(2.3x1015)的治疗效果 21项所评估的绿灯与红灯的光子/厘米~2/秒 汉密尔顿抑郁量表。等光子光谱白光 密度(4.6 x 10 14光子/cm2/秒)具有相同的神经内分泌效应 根据它们抑制血浆褪黑激素的能力来衡量。这些研究 将有助于确定SAD光疗的最佳光源。 此外，这些实验将提供关于 一种光感受器机制，将光刺激传输到 神经内分泌和昼夜节律系统。

At any one time, approximately 6% of all Americans are in the midst of a major depressive illness. Recently, a specific syndrome called Seasonal Affective Disorder of SAd has been formally described. Specifically, SAD is characterized by recurrent fall and winter depressions with symptoms of dysthymia, fatigue, social withdrawal diminished libido, carbohydrate craving, weight gain, and hypersomnia. Bright white light can be used to alleviate the symptoms of SAD. Most commonly, phototherapy has been performed with a broad spectrum, daylight simulating, fluorescent light at 2,000 to 2,500 lux (2.3 x 10 15 photons/cm2/sec). Previous studies indicate that restricted bandwidths from the two ends of the visible spectrum (blue and red), by themselves, are unable to produce the antidepressant action of light. This implies that either the middle portion of the visible spectrum is the more active component of light in reversing SAD, or that the entire spectrum must be used simultaneously to alleviated SAD. The primary aim of this study is to determine the relative biological and therapeutic effects of tow different restricted bandwidths of visible spectrum light; green fluorescent light (501-550 nm half-peak bandwidth). Two related studies will be done with patients diagnosed with SAD. The first study is designed to determine the relative therapeutic efficacy of equal photon densities (2.3 x 10 15 photon/cm2/sec of green versus red light as assessed by the 21 item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Spectrum white light at an equal photon density (4.6 x 10 14 photons/cm2/sec) have equal neuroendocrine effects as measured by their capacity to suppress plasma melatonin. These studies will help determine the optimum light source for SAD phototherapy. Furthermore, these experiments will yield basic information about the photoreceptor mechanism which transmits photic stimuli to the neuroendocrine and circadian systems.