Seasonal Affective Disorder

Synopsis

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of severe depression that affects many people in the autumn and winter, especially at high latitudes. Symptoms for many sufferers can be relieved by exposure to a very bright light for a few hours a day. The programme examines possible reasons why light therapy may be effective, using evidence from animal studies. Seasonal changes in day length have a profound effect on the sexual and aggressive behaviour of many animals, as well as on their general activity - changes that are linked to substances secreted in the brain during the hours of darkness. Results of animal studies have provided some insight into the problem of SAD, though the reason why light therapy is effective remains elusive.

Series

Biology, Brain and Behaviour, Course Sd206

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. VHS. col. 24 min.

Year of production

1992

Availability

Off-air recording licence
Sale; 2000 sale: £145.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Subjects

Biology; Psychology

Keywords

depression - medical; neurobiology; seasonal affective disorder

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk