SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER: SAD RESPONSE TO THE DARKNESS OF WINTER MONTHS

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression related to the fall and winter months when daylight hours are shorter. Symptoms of SAD can range from mild to severe, and in many ways they are similar to those of clinical depression. The distinguishing characteristic of SAD is that it is always related to the seasons of the year characterized by longer periods of darkness.

GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS

SAD is most common in areas of the world with very short days at certain times of the year. In Alaska and parts of Canada, there may be only a few hours of daylight during the winter months, a seasonal condition causing many to become depressed. Such people tend to experience a decrease of their symptoms as spring approaches with its longer days and shorter nights.

HOW COMMON IS SAD?

While SAD is not officially recognized as a mental disorder, many authorities estimate that ten million Americans alone, may suffer from the condition.  Another twenty-five million Americans may have a milder form of SAD, characterized by "winter blues," or "winter blahs."  Generally, the further an individual lives from the equator, the more likely he or she is to suffer from SAD.  More woman suffer from SAD than men, as is true of all types of depression.

CAUSES OF SAD

Scientist do not know what causes SAD; however, many believe the hormone, melatonin, may be related to the disease.  Melatonin is a chemical found naturally in the body that acts as an internal body clock.  Scientist believe that melatonin is involved in physically "reminding" people when to go to bed at night and when to get up in the morning.  When melatonin does not function properly, a disturbance in body rhythms my occur within the individual, causing symptoms of depression.

The production of Melatonin in the body is strongly related to the amount of daylight, meaning that the more daylight a person is exposed to, the less melatonin is produced.  Scientist are aware that our bodies produce more of this hormone during winter, and at night.  Since one function of melatonin is to cause a person to feel sleepy, it is possible that people who have too much melatonin in their system may feel tired or depressed.

SYMPTOMS OF SAD

• changes in mood
• lack of enjoyment or ability to experience pleasure
• low energy
• changes in sleep (increased need for sleep)
• tendency to overeat and crave sweets or high fat foods
• difficulty concentrating
• less time socializing
• poor work performance and increased absenteeism.

DIAGNOSIS

Since SAD tends to have the same symptoms as other types of depression, it is necessary to rule out other causes of depression before assuming that SAD is the cause of depressive symptoms.  The major clue that SAD may be the problem is the tendency of a person to become depressed early in the fall, and recover in early spring, especially if the problem occurs on an annual basis.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

The most obvious method of treating SAD is to expose the sufferer to additional sunlight during the fall and winter months.  When this poses a problem, use of a device referred to as a light box is often advised.  A light box contains a set of lights in front of a reflector that produce about fifty times the brightness of ordinary indoor lights.  The patient sits beside the light box for about thirty minutes each day in order to replace the sunlight that is not available during fall and winter months.

SAD also responds to a number of medications commonly used to treat other types of depression.  Four classes of drugs that have been found to be effective in the treatment of this disorder are listed below:

Heterocyclic antidepressants (HCAs)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Monoamiine oxidase inhibitors (MOA inhibitors)

Lithium salts, such as lithium carbonate

DISCLAIMER:  This article is not meant to take the place of a doctor's recommendation or treatment.  If you suspect that you may suffer from SAD, or any type of depression, please consult your physician for help.