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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of winter depression that affects numerous people every winter, generally between September and April and particularly during December, January and February. SAD is a mood disorder characterized by recurrent depressive episodes that arise and diminish with changes of season. Although spring and summer depressions have also been classified as Seasonal Affective Disorder, the most common form involves depression in the late fall or early winter, as well as with remission of that depression in the spring or summer. The latest version of the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, listed SAD not as it’s own mood disorder, but as a subtype of either Bipolar or Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder, with a seasonal pattern of major depressive episodes. Seasonal Affective Disorder, by their definition, involves decreased appetite, decreased sleep, and often, poor appetite and weight loss. ... Some, but not all of these atypical individuals also have a seasonal pattern, which develops into SAD. ... The disorder usually appears during adolescence or young adulthood, with approximately 75 percent of those affected being women between 20 and 40 years of age. ...
Since sunlight has affected the seasonal activities of animals, such as reproductive cycles and hibernation, SAD is believed to be because of the same seasonal light variation, only in humans. ... Seasonal rhythms are very strong in most animals; they grow hair, they mate in order to have offspring at certain times, etc. ... The million dollar question is which [chemical] is the key to the disorder. ... People who do not have the disorder don’t have a problem, because artificial light tricks their system. ...
Seasonal Affective Disorder shares several symptoms with other forms of depression including lethargy, sadness, hopelessness, anxiety and social withdrawal. ...
Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder vary but are usually very effective in combinations rather than by themselves. ... The theory of light and it’s affect on depression in the change of seasons was fist presented by psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal, who published a paper in 1984, on the use of bright light therapy in patients with this disorder. ... Previous attempts at treating non-seasonal patients with atypical depression with light therapy were negative, but these reports suggest further study is needed.
Approximate Word count = 2004
Approximate Pages = 8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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