Conference rocks::weight_control

	There are researchers at MIT that are conducting studies
    in SAD.
    
    	I think the last name was Wurthmann, it should be mentioned
    in the SA article.
    
    	Have you tried calling MIT and tryig to get in touch with
    the medical dept?  They could probably recommend the best place
    to go.
    
    -mike z
    

    I got evaluated at Brookside Hospital in Nashua.  I had to fill
    out questionnaires for 45 minutes, and then I talked with the
    researcher for abou 2 hours.
    
    I will post a note here that I put in the eating disorders notesfile.
    
    If you want to make an appointment, call Brookside Hospital and
    ask to speak with Jodie who is one of the SAD researchers.  I cannot
    remember her last name, unfortunately.
    
    Holly

                    -< Eating Disorders Confidential Forum >-
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Note 76.0                Seasonal Affective Disorder...                2 replies
SUPER::HENDRICKS "The only way out is through"       46 lines   5-APR-1989 18:28
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    Has anyone else in this file been evaluated for Seasonal Affective
    Disorder and received a positive diagnosis?  When talking with the
    researchers, I was amazed to find out about the connections betweeen
    SAD, carbohydrate cravings, thyroid problems, fall and wintertime
    productivity, and intermittent depression.  (Also PMS).
    
    I was told that I had numerous symptoms that fit the profile.
    (I was evaluated at Brookside Hospital in Nashua, and it was covered
    by insurance.)
    
    Has anyone sat under the lights, and if so, how did it affect
    carbohydrate cravings?
    
    I have been on a healthy eating plan for 5 weeks now with no slips
    other than a very occasional 2nd helping of salad or chicken, which
    I can live with.  I always seem to gain weight in the fall (35 lb.
    this year) and I have lost 23 lb. since January.  Very typical SAD
    pattern.  It's always been easiest to diet in the spring.  I am
    basically just avoiding sugar and carbs, and keeping an eye on
    quantities.
                                                                     
    Getting the SAD evaluation was very helpful.  Especially
    to know that there may be some additional support for me this fall
    by sitting under the lights. 
    
    
    Holly
    

    What is this "Sitting under the lights"?  Is it something like an
    ultrviolet lamp?  Is it harmful or can we all participate without
    going thru the evaluation?
    
    Just asking
    
    Linda B
    

    People diagnosed with SAD are often treated with special 2500 lux
    light boxes.  They sit under them, reading, eating or exercising
    for a prescribed period of time in the fall (I think it varies).
    Over 50% of SAD sufferers experience a marked decrease in symptoms
    with light treatment.
    
    See the Jan 1989 issue of Scientific American for more details.
    
    Holly

.4>    What is this "Sitting under the lights"?  Is it something like an
.4>    ultrviolet lamp?  Is it harmful or can we all participate without
.4>    going thru the evaluation?
    
    	The lights are full spectrum lights.  It's as harmful, or
    beneficial, as direct sunlight.  It's safer than tanning lights.
    
    	I think the commercial name for the bulbs is VitaLight.
    
    -mike z

    Mike, from the reading I've been doing, full spectrum lights were
    used early in the research.
    
    More recently, people have been finding that full spectrum lights
    aren't necessarily the answer.  I can't explain the difference,
    though.  I will try to look up sme articles and say more.
    
    Holly

    Are there any other symptoms than the ones you described in earlier
    replies, Holly?

    Yes, I think there are.  I am somewhat more focused on the ones that I
    noticed in myself.  I promise very soon to enter a list of traits from
    the literature.  I may even trek over to the library and do a search in
    the Reader's Guide to see what's being written about SAD in the popular
    press.
    
    One example that comes to mind is compulsive sleeping.  I don't
    do this (in the fall and winter I go from 5/6 to 7/8 hours per night.)
    Many SAD sufferers sleep 5-8 hours in the summer months and 12-14 hours
    a day in the fall and winter!   
         
    Other people with SAD experience severe depression, agoraphobia,
    and inability to relate to other people during the fall and winter
    months.
    
    If you read a lot of the literature, there are still many
    contradictions.  The researchers don't have a lot of firm answers
    yet.  My impression from my evaluation is that they look for clusters
    of traits/symptoms, and they also look for historical evidence of
    these patterns in a person's life.  
    
    I have a deadline this week, but will try to get to the library
    soon.  
    
    Holly

    
    Some doctors recommend L-Tryptophan as an aid to SAD.  It is considered
    to be of great assistance to some people.  You may purchase it over the
    counter in the vitamin section of the store.  Ask your pharmacist about
    the benefits of this product.
    
    

    Well I just got back to this and I wish to thank you all for your
    interest and your help.
    
    I am going give the L-Tryptophan a try.  I have just one question
    and maybe Mike can help??  Does your vitamin book have any info
    on this??  I moved the first of the year and one of the things I
    have yet to fine are my paperback books.  I would like to know
    how many mgs one should take?  so I quess thats two questions!
    
    Anyway, thanks alot to everyone.
    Robin
    
    

.11>    and maybe Mike can help??  Does your vitamin book have any info
.11>    on this??
    
    	Tryptophan is not a vitamin, it's an essential amino acid.
    
    	[ from CEofN, p 288  ... ]
    
    	"Tryptophan is an amino acid that the body cannot make, and so
    it must be supplied by the diet.  It is usually found in extremely
    small amounts in dietary proteins, but as long as 12 to 13% of the
    dietary calories are supplied in the form of good quality protein,
    sufficient tryptophan will be supplied to meet the body's needs.
    
    	In recent years typtophan has been promoted as a therapeutic
    agent in a number of disorders.  It is widely used in sleep clinics
    as an aid for people who take longer than normal to get to sleep,
    but it does not help insomnia due to anxiety.
    
    	It has also been used as a therapeutic agent for people with
    depression associated with carbohydrate cravoong.  As far as we
    know, tryptophan in the doses used (less than 3 grams per day) is
    harmless, but supplementation of this kind should only be done under
    the advice of a doctor."
    
    -mike z

    thanks  -mike z-