Norman E. Rosenthal
Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal is best known as the psychiatrist and scientist who first described seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or winter depression, and pioneered the use of light therapy in its treatment during his career as an award-winning researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health. He has conducted extensive research into disorders of mood, sleep and biological rhythms, resulting in over 200 scholarly publications. [1]
Contents
Biography
Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal (b. 1950) was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He received his M.B. B.Ch. (equivalent of an M.D.) from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine and Surgery at Johannesburg General Hospital. He then moved to the United States to further his education as a resident, and then Chief Resident, in psychiatry at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. From July 1979 through December 1999, he held the positions of Research Fellow, Researcher, and Senior Researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health. He has had a private practice since 1986. In 1998 he was named clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical School in Washington, D.C. He has also been the Medical Director of Capital Clinical Research Associates in Rockville, Maryland since its inception in 2001 [1].
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Dr. Rosenthal’s interest in studying the effects of changing seasons on mood emerged when he emigrated from the mild climate of Johannesburg, South Africa, to the northeastern US. He began to notice that he was more energetic and productive during the long summer days than during the winter [2].
In 1980, his team at NIMH admitted a patient with depression who had observed seasonal changes within himself and thought previous research regarding melatonin release at night may be able to help him [3][4]. Dr. Rosenthal and his colleagues treated the patient with bright lights, which helped to successfully manage the depression [2]. They conducted a formal follow-up study to confirm the success. The results were published in 1984, officially describing seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and pioneering light therapy as an effective treatment method [5]. Dr. Rosenthal published several books in the following years that helped to bring knowledge of SAD to the general public.
He has continued to conduct research in this area, including pediatric and adolescent SAD, effects of light therapy on seasonal bipolar disorder, and circadian rhythms. He has also conducted research on pharmaceutical treatments for SAD [6].
Books and Publications
Books
- Winter Blues. New York: Guilford Press, 1993; second edition 1998; third edition 2005.
- Seasonal Affective Disorders and Phototherapy, edited with M. Blehar. New York: Guilford Press, 1989.
- Seasons of the Mind: Why You Get the Winter Blues and What You Can Do About It. New York: Bantam Books, 1989.
- How to Beat Jet Lag, co-authored with D.A.Oren, W. Reich and T.A. Wehr. New York: Henry Holt, 1993.
- St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good. New York: Harper Collins, 1998.
- The Emotional Revolution: How the New Science of Feeling Can Transform Your Life. New York: Citadel, 2002.
Publications
In addition to his books, Dr. Rosenthal has written more than 200 scholarly publications. His writings have been featured in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Psychiatry Research, Archives of General Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, Molecular Psychiatry, and Journal of Affective Disorders, among others.
Awards and honors
- A.P.A. New York District Branch prize for paper written by a resident
- Psychiatric Institute Alumni Prize for best research performed by Psychiatric Institute Resident
- Public Health Service Commendation Medal
- Anna Monika Foundation Award for Depression Research
- Public Health Service Outstanding Service Award
- Listed in Best Doctors in America and Guide to America's Top Psychiatrists
See also
References
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- Personal Website
- Dr. Rosenthal on the Today Show
- Honored by NIMH
- Beating the Blues – interview on PBS in 2001
- Fall Starts the SAD Season for Many
- Getting a Grip on the Winter Blues
