It is believed that more than 10 million Americans struggle with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Now a new study has found that talk therapy is better than light treatment when it comes to managing patients with SAD.

SAD affects 1.5% and 9% of southern and northern states. According to initial results of a study, cognitive-behavioral therapy has been found to be better for patients having SAD than light therapy. In the study, the researchers have carried out a large-scale, randomized comparative analysis of the treatments.

In the study, 177 people were involved who were diagnosed with recurrent depression following a seasonal pattern. In the study, the participants were randomly assigned to undergo either cognitive-behavioral therapy or light therapy.

The treatment continued for six weeks and then they were followed after one or two winters. In the cognitive-behavioral therapy group, 88 participants used to receive two weekly sessions for six weeks and every session lasted for 50 minutes.

In the other group, light therapy was given for 30 minutes at home. Time of light exposure was adjusted over the time period of six weeks in order to witness the maximum and minimum side effects. Participants were asked to continue the therapy until spring.

In fact, the participants were followed during January and February every year. In the first year, there were not stark differences in the results. But in the second year, there were differences as 27.3% and 45.6% of recurrence in the cognitive-behavioral and light therapy groups.