What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? by David Keeling Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has a kind of mythic quality for most people, and for good reason; SAD, in its relationship to the seasons and to mysterious things like "circadian rhythms," hardly seems any less strange than, say, turning into a werewolf with every full moon. Officially, SAD is a "mood disorder" that coincides with changes of light during seasonal cycles. Roughly translated, that means that SAD makes you sad during the times of the year when there is less light (i.e., winter). There is some disagreement among researchers as to how exactly light plays a role in SAD, but overall that's a decent way of thinking about it. Why does this happen? Well, that's where our circadian rhythms (or "biological clocks") come in. With the changes in the seasons, our circadian rhythms also alter slightly, partly because of the amount of sunlight available to us. This, in turn, affects our melatonin production levels, which are related to sleep patterns and perhaps also depression. Some researchers claim that such changes may be evidence of residual hibernation instincts; that is, we feel differently in the winter because some animal part of us thinks we should really just eat and sleep a lot more rather than face the cold and darkness on a day-to-day basis. According to the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), SAD is of particular concern to college-aged people and women in general because it may How do I know if I have Seasonal Affective Disorder? "Seasonal Affective Disorder can be very complicated to diagnose accurately," notes psychologist John Skrovan, PhD. "The best thing to do is to get a professional opinion that includes a face-to-face interview." Skrovan further commented that there are several common symptoms of SAD, and that sometimes diagnosing SAD precisely can take time. "First, one needs to be mildly to moderately depressed," he said. "The depression then has to be unrelated to obvious social or interpersonal problems, or stressors that are typically associated with the season. There should also be a pattern of depression that begins sometime during a particular season (typically winter), and ends with the change of that season. This pattern has to be repeated for at least two years, and occur more often than depressions that occur at other times of the year." That doesn't mean that you'll have to suffer through two long winters before being diagnosed with SAD; if you're feeling awful and suspect it may have something to do with the winter, consult your health care provider. However, it does mean that you shouldn't look to SAD as a catch-all for depressed feelings. "SAD can occur simultaneously with other difficulties, such as anxiety or eating disorders," said Skrovan. "It's important to distinguish it from other conditions you might be suffering from. The most important thing to keep in mind is that SAD is different from just 'feeling down' because it's winter, especially when you live up North." What are the treatments for SAD? Like the disorder itself, theories about effective treatments for SAD are somewhat mystifying. For the most part, researchers have thrown up their hands over trying to find a single effective treatment, and now rely on a number of strategies that seem to work one way or another (even if they can't exactly say why). Light therapy is one of the most popular and accepted treatments of SAD. Many colleges and universities (particularly those at higher latitudes) own and operate their own light therapy beds and rooms. The theory behind light therapy (which basically puts you in front of very bright light for a while) is that exposure to bright artificial light will make up for the lack of natural sunlight in the winter, thereby suppressing melatonin production and, as a result, making you feel less depressed. "There is growing evidence in scientifically sound experiments that light therapies can be helpful to people experiencing SAD," Skrovan remarked. "They work better than any form of 'sugar pill' (placebo), too. It's also important to note that treatment in the morning is thought to be more effective than evening treatments." The National Mental Health Association claims that exposure to artificial light may not even be so significant, saying, "For mild symptoms, spending time outdoors during the day or arranging homes and workplaces to receive more sunlight may be helpful. One study found that an hour's walk in winter sunlight was as effective as two and a half hours under bright artificial light." In other words, simply pulling up the shades or going skiing for the afternoon may do wonders for your mood. Skrovan agreed with this idea, noting that "it can be helpful to make sure you are getting enough exercise and doing thing you enjoy to replace some of the things you can only do in other seasons." For those who are suffering acutely from SAD, antidepressant medications may be an appropriate treatment. "Antidepressants have been shown to be effective, and this makes sense given that SAD is considered a sub-category of depression," said Skrovan. Ultimately, if you're feeling depressed during the winter, you may want to wait a few days before officially claiming SADness; try getting outside more or engaging in extra exercise -- if that doesn't work, then consider talking to your health care provider or the counseling center about how you're feeling. References: Interview. Skrovan, John, PhD. New York, NY. December 5, 2000. National Mental Health Association (U.S.). "Seasonal Affective Disorder (Factsheet)." 1997. Accessed December 7, 2000. Article courtesy of 98six.com "Where Health and Reality Meet."                    RECOMMENDED READING FROM THE PSYSTORE: Essential Guide to Depression: American Medical Association (The American Medical Association Essential Guides Series) by Angela R. Perry (Editor) Our Price: $11.20 "In clear, nontechnical language, the American Medical Association explains the latest findings on depression, the complex mood disorder that affects nearly 17 million Americans each year. Distinguishing depression from the everyday 'blues,' this comprehensive guide provides solid, detailed answers." -- Book Description For a selection of books on this topic, visit the Psystore. ** All prices subject to change without notice