Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
The winter months keep many people indoors and it can seem like weeks when the sun doesn't shine.
This causes some people to have the "blues" or feel "down in the dumps". When these feelings don't go away, there
may be something bigger they are dealing with - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
What is SAD?
SAD is a type of depression that is affected by seasonal changes. Symptoms of SAD tend to come
back at the same time each year. Some people experience milder symptoms also known as the "blues". Others have more severe symptoms
that cause changes in mood and behavior that affect their daily lives to a much greater extent.
Who is affected?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, 2000) has identified the following factors related to SAD:
- Living in northern regions can increase occurrences of SAD
- Younger people are at a higher risk of developing SAD
- Women comprise 60% to 90% of people with SAD
Symtoms of SAD may include: |
| |
- A drop in energy level
- Increased eating
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Avoidance of social situations
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SAD may also include some of the symptoms that are present in other kinds of depression,
such as feelings of guilt, loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed, feelings
of hopelessness and/or helplessness, and physical problems (headaches, stomachaches, etc). |
Winter Seasonal Affective Disorder
The most common form of SAD occurs during the winter months, and is associated with decreased exposure to light.
Symptoms usually begin in late fall or early winter, and go away by summer.
Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder
A less common type is summer SAD, which may be related to excessive heat rather than light. With this type of SAD,
symptoms occur each summer and decrease in the winter.
Causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder
According to the National Mental Health Association (2005), "Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone secreted in the brain,
has been linked to SAD. This hormone, produced at increased levels in the dark, may cause symptoms of depression.
Therefore, when the days are shorter and darker, the production of this hormone increases."
Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder
Once identified, SAD is reasonably easy to treat. If you are experiencing symptoms of SAD, your health care provider can
help to determine the most appropriate treatment for you.
- The use of phototherapy, or light therapy, may be successful in suppressing the brain's secretion of melatonin.
This type of therapy involves a special light box that a person sits in front of to increase their exposure to light.
- Certain antidepressant drugs may be effective in reducing or eliminating your symptoms of SAD.
- Incorporating more natural light into your daily environment can help reduce symptoms of SAD. Try spending some time
outdoors each day. You can also install more lighting in your home, trim hedges or trees around windows to increase sunlight,
or decorate with brighter colors to help lighten up a room.
- Therapy may also be helpful to talk about ways to cope with SAD. Even creating an exercise and diet plan can be helpful to reduce symptoms.
If you notice periods of depression that reoccur with seasonal changes but go away the rest of the year,
you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Consult your health care provider for ways to manage your symptoms.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (4th ed, text rev.) Washington, DC: Author.
National Mental Health Association. (2005). Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Retrieved December 28, 2006
from the World Wide Web: http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectId=C7DF8CF1-1372-4D20-C887DB70324CE1B0&CFID=381737&CFTOKEN=e2b9f6c7202a75cd-C98D3D0C-1372-4D20-C8B3FE3065451B01
