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Domien G. M. Beersma, PhD
Psychiatric University Clinic Department of Biological Psychiatry PO Box 30.001 9700 RB Groningen The Netherlands

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1990;47(9):879-880.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

The discovery of the antidepressive effects of light¹ in seasonal affective disorder, winter type,² has inspired explanations of pathogenesis of and therapy for this disorder in terms of circadian (dys)regulations. The original hypothesis of day length being the crucial variable was rapidly rejected.³ Subsequently, circadian phase⁴ and the daily total number of photons received by the patient³ were proposed as relevant factors. Unfortunately, neither of these proposals appeared to be compatible with all experimental data. In the present study, aspects of the previous hypotheses are put together into a new hypothesis, the outlines of which will be discussed.

The Circadian Pacemaker.—

Functions of the circadian pacemaker are twofold. Apart from regulating the timing of processes within the circadian range, the pacemaker controls the annual timing of certain behaviors. To survive, many species must migrate, molt, hoard food, hibernate, and reproduce at . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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