Seasonal Affective Disorder
What is seasonal affective disorder? Seasonal affective
disorder, or SAD, is a mood disorder characterized by depression
related to a certain season of the year - especially winter.
However, SAD is often not described as a separate mood disorder
but as a "specifier," referring to the seasonal pattern of major
depressive episodes that can occur within major depression and
manic depression.
SAD is a clinical diagnosis accepted in the medical community.
Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, Chief of Environmental Psychiatry
Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the
National Institutes of Health, is the researcher credited with
discovering SAD.
Who is affected by SAD? Onset usually occurs during adulthood
(with the average onset occurring at approximately age 23), and
is four times more likely to affect women than men.
Approximately 11 million people are diagnosed with this disorder.
What are the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder? Two
seasonal patterns of symptoms have been identified with SAD: a
fall-onset type, also called "winter depression," in which major
depressive episodes begin in the late fall to early winter
months and remit during the summer months, and a spring-onset
type, also called "summer depression," in which the severe
depressive episode begins in late spring to early summer. The
following are the most common symptoms of SAD. However, each
individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may
include:
increased sleep and daytime drowsiness irritability fatigue, or
low energy level decreased sex drive diminished concentration
difficulty thinking clearly
increased appetite, especially for sweets and carbohydrates
causing weight gain The symptoms of SAD may resemble other
psychiatric conditions. Always consult your physician for a
diagnosis.
What causes SAD? Decreased sunlight is thought to be part of the
cause of SAD, and is under clinical investigation.
Treatment for seasonal affective disorder: Specific treatment
for SAD will be determined by your physician based on:
your age, overall health, and medical history extent of the
disease your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or
therapies expectations for the course of the disease your
opinion or preference The treatments for "winter depression" and
"summer depression" often differ, and may include any, or a
combination, of the following:
light therapy antidepressant medications psychotherapy