Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder, simply called as SAD is a problem serious enough to require hospitalization. Though the affected person does not go into clinical depression he experiences a great loss of energy. Inhabitants of the polar region are prone to SAD while those staying in the mid latitude region are also not spared. SAD is often confused with winter blues. Winter blues disappear with exercise or physical activity. SAD is more persistent. SAD commonly victimizes women above 20. Some seasonally get affected during summers and not winters. Symptoms of summer and winter SAD are radically different. Summer SAD is marked by reduction in appetite and sleep and increase in enjoyment in all activities. Winter SAD brings about weight gain related to increase in sleep and food with reduced pleasure in any activity. Anxiety characterizes both forms. Winter depression is more common in people living in northern latitudes and occurs with the disruption of the day and night cycle when nights become longer. Scandinavian countries are much in the higher latitudes and 20% of the people experience SAD during winters
Causes:
Medical research is trying to identify the underlying causes and has come up with possible explanations. SAD could be caused by
- Serotonin: reduction in the production of serotonin might be one of the causative factors. This claim has not been accepted by some. But if serotonin reduction is the cause then exposure to artificial light is the remedy.
- Melatonin: might be the causative factor as there is a direct contact between retina and pineal gland. But even this theory was disproved as people with and without SAD had the same melatonin levels. But experimental mice express depression like symptoms upon reduction of melatonin.
- Heredity, age and body’s chemical make up along with decreased sunlight might work together leading to SAD.
Treatment:
Whatever may be the method of treatment, it works only as a cure and not as prevention. When feelings of anxiety continue for long with thoughts of suicide creeping in, then a visit to the doctor is an immediate must. A variety of treatments exist, the most popular being light therapy that enjoys a success rate of 85%. The affected person is asked to stay near a light box that is much brighter than office lighting. The recommended duration for the therapy is 35 to 60 minutes and some feel the best time for the treatment by light to be the early day as this light mimics dawn. Treatment yields results within a week but the arrival of spring brings a complete cure.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) is the next method to be tried in case light therapy fails. Anti depressants are also administered.
Negative ion therapy is a method in which electronic devices generate negatively charged particles. Negative ions are produced by natural sunlight, moving water and wind and they contain an extra electron that cleans up the atmosphere and is effective in alleviating SAD.
Cognitive therapy: Negative thought pattern eventually cause depression. Identification of negative thinking and replacing it by positive thought is cognitive therapy.