Mental Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder – Cause, Symptoms, And Treatment

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a psychiatric disorder. It is a strange type of depression that is related to the winter season. As the days become shorter during the fall and winter, the depression pursues in people suffering from this disorder. It is also called as ‘winter depression,’ ‘winter blues’ or the ‘hibernation reaction.’ It is also represented as SAD for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Incidence

This disorder is more frequently found in individuals who live in areas farther away from the equator, affecting women more than men. People suffering from the seasonal affective disorder react adversely to the colder temperatures and the falling levels of sunlight.

This disease is found more frequently related to the winter season, but may also be sometimes associated with the summer months.

Cause

Till now, the exact cause of this disorder is unknown. Studies are being carried out to know the exact cause. The proposed theories describe the lack of sunlight to be a common factor responsible for this disorder.

Sunlight has shown to cause a change in certain chemicals present in the brain. It has also been found that persons having a low vitamin D level in blood are more susceptible to developing this disorder. It must be pointed out here that sunlight plays a significant role in activation of the vitamin D present in the body. Thus, somehow, sunlight and vitamin D may be a factor, yet studies are still in progress, and no exact cause can be told with certainty.

Symptoms

The symptoms of seasonal affective disorders are like those of depression. These persons suffer from the complaints of fatigue, irritability, concentration defects, muscle pains, increased spells of crying, insomnia and over eating thereby leading to obesity.

People suffering from this disorder during summer show some different symptoms like loss of appetite and weight loss, but insomnia is a common complaint.

Treatment

The treatment lies in the provision of light to the affected individuals. This is called as ‘photo-therapy.’ For this treatment, it is the quantity of life which is important and not the quality; Thus sunlight is not necessary; instead exposure to individual light boxes for at least 30 minutes daily is the requirement.

Change of climate is also helpful. Moving to the areas which are hot during the winter season in one’s environment can increase the light exposure and thus reduce the symptoms.

Medical treatment includes certain medications which inhibit the re uptake of serotonin. This performs an antidepressant effect on these individuals.

Meanwhile consulting a good psychiatrist also proves to be beneficial. Currently, there are no specific medical tests or investigations available to diagnose the seasonal affective disorder. The whole diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms. Once diagnosed, providing treatment in the form of photo therapy, medicines, and psychiatric consultation gives good results.