Adaptation to dim light in depressed patients with seasonal affective disorder

Supersensitivity to light has been suggested as a possible trait marker for manic-depressive illness. Because winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is associated with depressive episodes during dark winter days, the authors postulated that SAD patients would show diminished sensitivity to dim light. Dark-adaptation curves were obtained in 10 medication-free, depressed SAD patients and in 10 age- and sex-matched drug-free healthy controls. Contrary to the hypothesis, patients adapted to dim light more rapidly than controls.