Do you get winter blues? Why does this happen? What can we do about it? It is all about light or are there other factors involved in winter blues? These are all questions we try to answer in this episode, with the help of Prof Greg Murray (Psychologist) and Martin Emtenäs (Swedish TV host).

Dr David Cunnington (Sleep Physician) and Dr Moira Junge (Health Psychologist) host the monthly podcast, Sleep Talk, talking all things sleep.

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Audio Timeline:

• 00:00 - 01:45 Introduction
• 01:45 - 07:43 What's news in sleep?
  • 01:45 - 03:42 Sleep Awareness Week
  • 03:42 - 04:45 Debunking Sleep Myths
  • 04:45 - 05:37 Podcast on a CPAP experience
  • 05:37 - 06:22 Ask the Doctor
• 06:22 -  Theme - Winter Blues
  • 06:22 - 09:50 Background - Winter Blues
  • 09:50 - 15:18 Guest interview - Martin Emtenäs
    • Living through a Scandinavian winter
    • Sleeping when it's light all night
  • 15:18 - 39:34 Guest interview - Prof Greg Murray
    • What's the role of light in regulating the circadian system?
    • How do our behaviours change across seasons?
    • Is it all about light? What other factors contribute to winter blues?
    • How might light affect mood?
    • Should we use the term Seasonal Affective Disorder (SADS)?
    • What biases in research can impact on research in this area?
    • How should we approach treatment for winter blues?
  • 39:34 - 42:46 What else can people do to help with winter blues?
  • 42:46 - 43:23 Where to get more information on winter blues
• 43:23 - 44:20 Clinical tip of the month - Using behavioural activation for fatigue
• 44:20 - 47:50 Pick of the month:
  • 44:20 - 46:07 Moira - SAD schmad: Is seasonal affective disorders a valid construct?
  • 46:07 - 47:50 David - Light as an aid for inpatient recovery: A systematic review
• 47:50 - 49:25 What's coming up in sleep?

Next episode: July 3rd - Update from Sleep 2017 meeting

Links mentioned in the podcast:

• Sleep Awareness Week
• Debunking Sleep Myths
• Adventures in CPAP
• Ask the Doctor
• Will Norway Ever Beat the Winter Blues? - The Atlantic
• Martin Emtenäs bio
• Prof Greg Murray bio
• Centre for Environmental Therapeutics
• Seasonal affective disorder - SleepHub post
• Light Therapy - What are the options?  - SleepHub post
• What is behavioural activation? - SleepHub post
• SAD schmad: Is seasonal affective disorder a valid construct?
• Light as an aid for inpatient recovery: A systematic review
• Sleep Awareness Week
• Sleep 2017 meeting - Boston June 3-7