MOSCOW, July 28. /TASS/. Stable sleep patterns, walks, and suitable lighting can support the sleep and well-being of Arctic residents, though they alone cannot guarantee depression prevention and cannot replace professional treatment if the disease is developing already, clinical psychologist Olga Fidrya told TASS.
"Generally speaking, there is no special "Arctic psychotherapy," she said. "Depression in the northern regions is treated with the same proved methods like elsewhere, though with additional attention to light, sleep, and to seasonal symptoms."
In order to maintain sleep and circadian rhythms, it is important to maintain a stable sleep and wake regime, to get the most available natural light in the morning, and darken the bedroom during the white nights season, the expert said. Light therapy may be a treatment option for winter depression, but using it requires prior consultations with specialists, especially so if a person has signs of bipolar disorder, eye diseases, or if a person is taking medications that increase light sensitivity. As of now, there is still insufficient evidence that light therapy, initiated before the onset of symptoms specifically to prevent a new episode, may be efficient.
