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Seasonal Affective Disorder
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression which has a seasonal pattern. The most common form of SAD is ... called 'winter depression' because symptoms are worst in the winter months. Symptoms tend to start from around September and are worse when the days are shortest (in December, January and February). By springtime, most people with SAD will improve and symptoms usually disappear. Seasonal affective disorder can sometimes affect people in the summer rather than the winter, but this is rare and has different symptoms.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder... known as SAD, winter blues, or seasonal depression, is a medical condition caused by the seasonal change in the amount of available sunlight. SAD (which affects as much as 10% of the population) is most pronounced in the more northern regions of the world, with a greater daylight variance from summer to winter. Women are affected to a larger degree than men (by almost 3 to 1). Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the individual case. In its milder form, “winter blues”, symptoms include a lack of energy, depression, listlessness, and food cravings for sweets and carbohydrates. By contrast, cases of the more debilitating Seasonal Affective Disorder may include additional symptoms: Problems sleeping, change in appetite or weight, loss of memory, lack of concentration, severe depression and confusion
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A new study of Seasonal Affective Disorder, a variety of depression that seems to be associated with winter has had a history of being successfully treated by intense light 45 minutes twice a day during the winter season. The problem has been that people have a tough time adhering to a daily schedule of 90 minutes of intense light. The side of the issue is that the lights are quite expensive, in the area of $350 or more. As a rule, insurance doesn't readily pay for the lights.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)... known as the “winter blues,” is characterized by annual episodes of depression in fall and winter which dissipate in the warmer, brighter spring and summer months. The lack of sunlight during colder months causes a general feeling of change or imbalance in the way the body is functioning. Although SAD has been affecting people for centuries, it is only during the past 15 years that modern medicine has recognized its significance by giving the disorder a name and a specific set of symptoms. An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from SAD annually.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder... called Winter Depression, affects approximately 10 million people in the United States alone. Women are three times more likely than men to suffer from this disorder. People who live in colder climates have a higher incidence of SAD than do those who live in warm, sunny locations. It has also been documented that suicide rates are higher in places of increased light deprivation.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder is manifested by symptoms of clinical depression, with impaired social interaction and cognitive ability. On the other hand, Winter Blues is milder than SAD and is typified by the lack of energy and feeling sad or down.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder