Seasonal Affective Disorder

Explaining Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD or Winter Depression is a type of major depression that reoccurs at specific times of the year. SAD was first noticed many years ago, but was not given the name Seasonal Affective Disorder until the early 1980's. The most common times for SAD symptoms to begin are September through November and the depression lasts throughout winter to early spring (March through May).

There is a less common type of SAD known as Summer Depression. It usually begins in the late spring or early summer and goes away in winter. Both forms of SAD seem to be related to changes in the amount of daylight during different times of the year. See my article on summer SAD.

SAD varies with geographic location. As many as 10% of the population in New England can have symptoms while less than 2% suffer from SAD in Southern California and Florida.

Diagnosing Sad:

All major depression, whether seasonal or otherwise, is characterized by the following symptoms:

Lack of energy

Anxiety

Fatigue

Sleep problems/tendency to oversleep

Irritability

Increased sensitivity to social rejection

Avoidance of social situations

Body aches and pains

Change in weight, usually weight gain

Change in appetite, especially a craving for sweet or starchy food

Memory loss

A heavy feeling in the arms or legs

Inability to make decisions

Low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness

Problems concentrating

Lack of interest in or enjoyment of activities

Suicidal thoughts

Diminished interest in sex

Physical problems such as headaches

Feelings of guilt

Symptoms of Summer Depression may also include weight loss, poor appetite and insomnia along with the above symptoms.

More than three-fourths of all SAD sufferers are women in their 20's to 40's. About one-third of these individuals have a family member with SAD. Also, high rates of other depressions and alcoholism are found in these families.

In people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, the body's clock is somehow upset, disrupting normal biological rhythms that influence physiological and psychological functions. Researchers have focused on three main theories to explain this disruption:

Melatonin seems to be the main hormone that researchers are focusing on. This hormone reaches its highest blood levels between dusk and dawn. It may be that SAD stems from an overproduction of melatonin during the long, dark winter nights. This theory is supported by studies showing that light therapy effectively stops the flow of melatonin.

Serotonin is also being studied. Seritonin is a chemical in the body that wanes in the winter. Deficiency in serotonin is known to cause depression, and a craving for carbohydrates. Studies show that light therapy increases blood levels of serotonin.

Eye abnormalities are also being considered. Preliminary studies suggest that the eyes of people with SAD are less sensitive to light so they never fully adjust to dim winter light as normal eyes do. This also could disrupt the body's clock, making short days even shorter.

Treatment For Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Since Winter Depression is thought to be caused by the body's reaction to lack of sunlight, light therapy is one option for treating winter SAD. The use of bright light (phototherapy) has been an antidote to lethargy and gloom for thousands of years, but it has only been explored systematically in the past decade. The most common device used is a bank of white fluorescent lights mounted with a metal reflector and shielded with a piece of plastic screen. This device is known as a light box. Light boxes have become Increasingly available for purchase and there are many new types of these devices, including portable units that are worn around the neck, emitting bright light onto the face of the wearer.

Also, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants which have been shown to effectively treat SAD. Prozac (Fluoxetine) is the drug of choice as the standard tricyclic antidepressants tend to cause drowsiness and increased appetite.

The improvement shown by the use of a light box begins in two to four days and is complete within a week or two. Some studies show that light therapy and drug therapy, in combination, is better than either one alone. With proper medical intervention, most sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder can live normal, healthy, productive lives.