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Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern

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KEY POINTS

  • Seasonal affective disorder is depression that affects some people during the fall and winter when there is less sunlight. You feel sad, hopeless, and uninterested in daily life.
  • The first treatment for SAD is increasing exposure to sunlight or full spectrum lights, which are light bulbs that are like sunlight. Medicine and therapy are also helpful.
  • If you are depressed and feel that you could hurt yourself or someone else, call your healthcare provider or therapist right away.

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What is seasonal affective disorder?

Depression is a condition in which you feel sad, hopeless, and uninterested in daily life. Depressive disorder with seasonal pattern is depression that starts in fall or winter and gets better in spring and summer. This form of depression can sometimes be severe. Depressive disorder with seasonal pattern is also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Usually SAD is a lifelong condition.

What is the cause?

The exact cause of SAD is not known. It is known that light, including sunlight, can affect hormones and brain chemicals. These hormones and chemicals control body rhythms, such as how much you sleep, and also control mood. It is not known why some people seem to be more sensitive to getting less sunlight. It is more common if other people in your family have depression.

SAD is more common the further north or south you live from the equator. SAD is more common in women. It usually starts during the young adult years.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of SAD are somewhat different from other depressions. In colder climates you may get depressed as the days get shorter in the winter, and then feel active and happy as the days get longer in the spring. If you have SAD, in the fall and winter, symptoms may include:

  • Feeling uninterested in things you usually enjoy
  • Craving starchy foods like potatoes and bread and gaining weight
  • Being irritable
  • Having trouble getting up in the morning and often wanting an afternoon nap
  • Feeling tired and slowed down much of the time
  • Losing interest in sex
  • Not being able to concentrate or remember things
  • Having worse than usual premenstrual symptoms if you are a woman

In the northern hemisphere, January and February are usually the months with the greatest symptoms. When spring arrives each year, you are likely to feel energized and be very active. These symptoms must be a pattern for at least 2 years before they are considered seasonal affective disorder.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider or therapist will ask about your symptoms. He will make sure you do not have a medical illness or drug or alcohol problem that could cause the symptoms.

How is it treated?

The first treatment for SAD is increasing exposure to sunlight or full spectrum lights, which are light bulbs that are like sunlight. Medicine and therapy are also helpful.

Light Therapy

Lamps or light boxes with light bulbs that imitate sunlight are used. These are up to 25 times as bright as normal fluorescent bulbs. Some people use these lights every morning. Other people try to spend more time outside during the winter to get more sunlight.

Medicine

Several types of medicines can help. Your healthcare provider will work with you to select the best medicine. You may need to take more than one type of medicine.

Therapy

Seeing a mental health therapist in addition to light therapy may be helpful with seasonal affective disorder.

Other treatments

Learning ways to relax may help. Yoga and meditation may also be helpful. You may want to talk with your healthcare provider about using these methods along with medicines and therapy.

Claims have been made that certain herbal and dietary products help control depression symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce symptoms of depression. St. John's wort may help mild symptoms of depression. It will not help severe cases of depression. No herb or dietary supplement has been proven to consistently or completely relieve the symptoms of depression. Supplements are not tested or standardized and may vary in strengths and effects. They may have side effects and are not always safe. Talk with your healthcare provider before you use any of these products.

How can I take care of myself?

To help reduce the effects of seasonal affective disorder:

  • Get regular exposure to sunlight or full spectrum light between fall and spring. Take walks outside or sit near windows if you can.
  • Get support. Talk with family and friends. Consider joining a support group in your area.
  • Learn to manage stress. Ask for help at home and work when the load is too great to handle. Find ways to relax. For example take up a hobby, listen to music, watch movies, or take walks. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises when you feel stressed.
  • Take care of your physical health. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Eat a healthy diet. Limit caffeine. If you smoke, try to quit. Avoid alcohol and drugs, because they can make your symptoms worse. Exercise according to your healthcare provider's instructions.
  • Check your medicines. To help prevent problems, tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all the medicines, natural remedies, vitamins, and other supplements that you take.
  • Contact your healthcare provider or therapist if you have any questions or your symptoms seem to be getting worse.

Get emergency care if you or a loved one have serious thoughts of suicide or harming others.

For more information, contact:

Developed by RelayHealth.
Adult Advisor 2016.4 published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2016-08-05
Last reviewed: 2015-11-09
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2016 RelayHealth, a division of McKesson Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.
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