Katarzyna Ciesielczyk, Daria Pracka, Tadeusz Pracki, Małgorzata Tafil-Klawe, Marzena Ziółkowska-Kochan
Zmiany jakości snu i poziomu nastroju pod wpływem fototerapii u pacjentów z chorobą afektywną sezonową ChAS  1105
Changes of sleep quality and mood disorders under influence of phototherapy on patients with seasonal affective disorders SAD  1105
Summary
Major depression, seasonal pattern (seasonal affective disorder SAD) characterize the winter recurrence depressive episodes with remission of symptoms in spring and summer. Patients with winter depression report hypersomnia, fatigue, loss of energy, carbohydrate craving, appetite and weight gain. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of phototherapy on quality of sleep parameters and subjective estimation of mood disorders in patients with seasonal affective disorders. Method: The investigated group consisted of 17 patients with SAD (15 female, 2 male) aged 18-64 (mean 38±12) years. Phototherapy (bright light therapy) was applied 14 days, everyday morning - 30 minute, between 6.00 to 10.00 - exposition on light about 10 000 lux intensity. Polysomnogram (sleep EEG) was recorded before an after treatment. Results: After phototherapy patients reported a significant mood improvement (57%) measured by the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire. Sleep investigation showed: increase sleep efficiency, decrease sleep latency, decrease slow wave sleep latency and increase of sleep spindles in the first hour of sleep. Conclusions: Research confirms that phototherapy is an effective method of treatment of choice for patients with SAD. The result indicates that phototherapy markedly improved of mood and sleep quality.