It's a condition similar to depression that occurs each winter as sunlight levels decrease then improves in the spring.

這是一種類似於憂鬱症的病症，每年冬天都會發生，因為陽光會減少，然後在春天會有所改善。

The good news is sad is highly treatable, says Dr. Paul Dean, the director of the Winter Depression Clinic at the Yale School of Medicine.

耶魯大學醫學院冬季憂鬱症診所主任保羅·迪安博士說，好消息是悲傷是可以治療的。

Here are seven things to know about treating the disorder.

以下是治療這種疾病需要了解的七件事。

One, the standard method for treating seasonal affective disorder is light therapy, using a lightbox device.

一，治療季節性情感障礙的標準方法是使用燈箱設備的光療法。

The research best supports a half an hour of 10,000 locks of light, seven days a week before 8 a.m.

研究最支持每週 7 天早上 8 點之前照射半小時 10,000 束光。

10,000 lux is a measure of brightness of light. That's about the brightness of being outside in July.

10,000 勒克斯是光亮度的衡量標準。 這大約是七月戶外的亮度。

The research suggests that light is most potent applied in the morning.

研究表明，早晨的光照效果最強。

That simple environmental therapy, that is is a very powerful and fully effective treatment for most people with seasonal affective disorder.

對於大多數患有季節性情感障礙的人來說，這種簡單的環境療法是一種非常強大且完全有效的治療方法。

Two, where the lightbox is placed is key.

第二，燈箱放置的位置是關鍵。

The light has to be visual in the visual field, but we don't recommend just staring at it.

光線必須在視野中可見，但我們不建議只是盯著它看。

You probably want it to be a little bit elevated.

你可能希望它稍微升高一點。

They've got to be able to set up a device on the counter or table top, eat breakfast, read the paper, whatever they do in the morning.

他們必須能夠在櫃檯或桌面上安裝一個設備，吃早餐，閱讀報紙，無論他們早上做什麼。

Three, light therapy routines may need to be adjusted depending on the patient.

第三，光療程序可能需要根據患者進行調整。

When people start doing light therapy, some people may suffer a bit of headache or glare and we have advise them just to do the treatment for a slightly shorter period of time and usually they get used to it.

當人們開始進行光療時，有些人可能會感到有點頭痛或眩光，我們建議他們進行稍微短一些的治療時間，通常他們會習慣。

It may be that a longer period of exposure to a lower level of light might be effective.

長時間暴露在較低水平的光線下可能會有效。

Some people may get a little wired or over-activated.

有些人可能會有點緊張或過度活躍。

And once again, we recommend they just shorten the treatment briefly.

我們再次建議他們短暫縮短治療時間。

Now people with bipolar disorder, you can trigger elevated mood or symptoms of elevated mood.

現在，患有雙極性情感障礙的人可能會引發情緒升高或情緒升高的症狀。

So anyone with bipolar disorder should be getting light treatment in collaboration with a qualified clinician.

因此，任何患有雙相情感障礙的人都應該與合格的臨床醫生合作接受輕度治療。

Four, medication can also be used to treat seasonal affective disorder.

四、藥物也可用於治療季節性情感性疾患。

The only antidepressant that's actually approved by the FDA is Wellbutrin for the prevention of seasonal affective disorder.

唯一獲得 FDA 批准的抗憂鬱藥物是維布特林 (Wellbutrin)，用於預防季節性情感障礙。

That indication proved by the government is to start taking Wellbutrin before the winter begins.

政府證明的這一跡像是在冬季開始之前開始服用維布特林。

But other antidepressants do seem to work.

但其他抗憂鬱藥物似乎確實有效。

Five, even though vitamin D production is tied to sunlight exposure, it's not clear if taking vitamin D supplements helps treat sad.

第五，儘管維生素 D 的產生與陽光照射有關，但尚不清楚服用維生素 D 補充劑是否有助於治療悲傷。

We don't think that vitamin D deficiency has anything to do with seasonal affective disorder in the vast majority of patients.

我們認為維生素 D 缺乏與絕大多數患者的季節性情感障礙沒有任何關係。

There may be a few patients who have a true clinical deficiency.

可能有少數患者存在真正的臨床缺陷。

The one trial giving people vitamin D for seasonal affective disorder found no therapeutic effect.

一項給予人們維生素 D 治療季節性情感障礙的試驗並沒有發現治療效果。

Six, simple behavior changes can combat sad and other forms of depression.

第六，簡單的行為改變可以對抗悲傷和其他形式的憂鬱症。

Well, there's some very interesting research that cognitive behavioral therapy that gets people up and going in the winter time can be effective for seasonal affective disorder.

嗯，有一些非常有趣的研究表明，在冬天讓人們起床和活動的認知行為療法可以有效治療季節性情緒障礙。

And indeed, if you get people up and going, they're going to feel better, you're also going to be exposed to more light.

事實上，如果你讓人們站起來並行動起來，他們會感覺更好，你也會接觸到更多的陽光。

It's a cascade.

這是一個小瀑布。

So we encourage people to do all the things that sustain them.

因此，我們鼓勵人們做所有能夠維持他們生活的事情。

Seven, light therapy can help even if your seasonal symptoms are not severe enough to be diagnosed as sad.

第七，即使您的季節性症狀還沒有嚴重到被診斷為悲傷，光療也會有所幫助。

They just don't feel as vigorous during the winter, their energy is worse.

他們只是在冬天感覺不那麼有活力，他們的精力更差。

Their mood isn't quite as good.

他們的心情不太好。

All of these winter symptoms can also be treated with bright light.

所有這些冬季症狀也可以透過強光來治療。

So even if people don't have the full syndrome of seasonal affective disorder, they may benefit from light treatment.

因此，即使人們沒有患有季節性情感障礙的全部綜合症，他們也可能會從光照治療中受益。

If you suspect you may have sad or another mental health disorder, check with a healthcare professional about how you're feeling and possible treatments.

如果您懷疑自己可能患有悲傷或其他精神健康疾病，請諮詢醫療保健專業人員，以了解您的感受和可能的治療方法。

For the PBS News Hour, I'm Casey Coon.

我是 PBS News Hour 的凱西·庫恩。