Light therapy company says that poor weather this summer could trigger increase in depression

SCOTLAND'S miserable summer has triggered a surge in winter depression, according to new figures published yesterday.

Experts predict more than one million Scots will suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (Sad) and the "winter blues" as the bad weather begins to take its toll.

Torrential rain and grey skies through much of the summer have left hundreds of thousands of people feeling under the weather with many being forced to turn for help.

Lumie, a company who sell light therapy products that are claimed to help treat Sad, say that the study was carried out by survey group ICM, and that it says one in five Scots will suffer from a bout of seasonal depression, with women more likely to suffer than men.

Around 15 per cent will feel the effects of the "winter blues", while 7 per cent are likely to suffer from Sad.

And a spokeswoman for the company says they have seen a dramatic increase in calls for help: "We have reported a surge in the number of people enquiring about light boxes used to treat Sad."

"Existing owners are claiming they have been using their products all through the summer."

While Sad normally affects people during winter months, especially during December, January and February, a lack of daylight at any time of year can lead to bouts of depression.

Vicki Prout, spokeswoman for the mental health charity Mind, says the recent downpours have done little to help people suffering from a mental illness.

"The recent rainfall in Scotland can lead to people not being able to get fresh air and exercise outdoors, both of which are proven to reduce feelings of stress and depression," she said.

And Dr Stephanie Biello from Glasgow University's psychology department says sunlight is important when it comes to treating depression: "Recent studies have shown that when treating depression, the amount of exposure to sunlight correlates to the changes in a person's mood."

According to the Met Office, July's sunlight hours were 7 per cent below average.

Their figures show there were only 135 hours of sunlight over the course of the month while rainfall for August is expected to exceed the average for that time of year.

According to the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association, the condition affects an estimated half a million people each year, mainly in the age bracket 18 to 30. It is also a condition more common among women than men.

The disease has many symptoms, including a general lethargy and sleep problems, with sufferers feeling tired and lacking energy.

This can lead to a loss of concentration and a decrease in sex drive as well as a reluctance to get involved with activities.

Those affected may also experience an increase in appetite and a consequent weight gain, and more serious mental health problems such as feelings of hopelessness and mood swings.

For most, the symptoms are mild, but a small percentage find it impossible to function during the winter months without continuous treatment.

The cause of the disease is not fully understood, although researchers believe that the lack of exposure to light causes a chemical imbalance in the hypothalamus, the section of the brain that controls appetite, sleeping patterns and mood.

Researchers believe that Sad may also be genetically linked, with figures suggesting that you are more likely to develop the condition if a close family member is a sufferer.

Last week, Aberdeen University researchers studying the primitive Soay breed of sheep, which relies on its strong seasonal biology to survive, linked Sad to a hormonal timing mechanism in the brain dating back millions of years.