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Seasonal Mood Disorder
Affective Disorder Seasonal

Presentation

[…] or full remission (i.e., no significant symptoms present for at least 2 months). [online.epocrates.com]

According to the narrative presented, the history of SAD in the UK has primarily been one of patient activism and (irregular) media attention. [emotionsblog.history.qmul.ac.uk]

Any exceptions to this, including excerpting, paraphrasing or reproduction in a commercial work, must be presented in writing to the APA. Images from the APA Help Center may not be reproduced. [apa.org]

To meet the diagnostic criteria for the disorder as indicated in the DSM-IV-TR, these symptoms must be present during the season the individual is depressed and must lessen or abate when that season is over. [minddisorders.com]

Either type of SAD may also include some of the symptoms that are present in other kinds of depression, such as feelings of guilt, a loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy, feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, or physical problems [aafp.org]

Entire Body System

  • Weight Gain

    […] and winter, although excessive weight gain may make you feel worse – get tips on ways to avoid winter weight gain connecting with others for mental wellbeing – sleepiness, lack of motivation, and irritability can be problematic, but gaining support from [nhs.uk]

    When nerve cell pathways in the brain that regulate mood don't function normally, the result can be feelings of depression, along with symptoms of fatigue and weight gain. SAD usually starts in young adulthood and is more common in women than men. [webmd.com]

    Also get help if you feel despair about the future or are suicidal, or if you have major sleep or eating changes, such as a weight gain of 15 or 20 pounds. [prevention.com]

    This, in turn, leads to weight gain — and not an insignificant amount, either. "With the [winter] doldrums, it's in the norm to gain up to 5 or 6 pounds over the winter, but with full-blown SAD, weight gain can be far more than that," says Dr. [thelist.com]

    Too much of good thing (note the symptom of craving carbohydrates) can lead to that often occurring winter weight gain. [westfield.ma.edu]

  • Fatigue

    Some suggest that due to a decrease of daylight hours, melatonin increases, causing greater fatigue and possibly depression. Change in circadian rhythm. [casapalmera.com]

    If you feel depressed, fatigued, and irritable the same time each year, and these feelings seem to be seasonal in nature, you may have a form of SAD. Talk openly with your doctor about your feelings. [webmd.com]

    Symptoms and Diagnosis Common symptoms of SAD include fatigue, even with too much sleep, and weight gain associated with overeating and carbohydrate cravings. [psychiatry.org]

    Side effects include eye strain, headache, fatigue, irritability and inability to sleep. This happens if light therapy is used late in the day. Tanning beds shouldn't be used to treat SAD. [aafp.org]

    that I realized fatigue and the usual winter doldrums weren't the culprit. [thelist.com]

  • Hypersomnia

    Instead, they complain of hypersomnia (sleepiness) and overeating with a craving for carbohydrates, along with a depressed mood and lowered self-esteem. [theconversation.com]

    The signs and symptoms of SAD include: anxiety feeling guilty and worthless feeling stressed indecision irritability low moods and despair reduced libido crying lethargy, fatigue, hypersomnia increased appetite social withdrawal difficulty concentrating [medicalnewstoday.com]

    Symptoms of the Winter Pattern of SAD include: Having low energy Hypersomnia Overeating Weight gain Craving for carbohydrates Social withdrawal (feel like “hibernating”) Symptoms of the less frequently occurring summer seasonal affective disorder include [nimh.nih.gov]

Gastrointestinal

  • Overeating

    Over half (57 per cent) of adults say their overall mood is worse in the winter season compared to the summer season, highlighting the strong links between the weather and wellbeing. [independent.co.uk]

    Over the lifetime course, the number of seasonal major depressive episodes substantially outnumbers nonseasonal major depressive episodes. [online.epocrates.com]

    Imagine you are answering a battery of questions about how your mood, weight, appetite vary over the year, then filling out charts to compare your habits over the the seasons. [scientificamerican.com]

    You should also pick fluorescent over LED, and white over blue light. The worst thing you can do is stay indoors and not be exposed to natural sunlight at all. [nbcnews.com]

  • Increased Appetite

    Advertisement 5 of 8 Getty Images Increased appetite Like depression in general, SAD can increase appetite in some people. Sixty-five percent of people with the disorder report being hungrier during the colder, darker months. [health.com]

    appetite These symptoms may make everyday activities increasingly difficult. [hse.ie]

    Symptoms include decreased concentration, increased appetite, weight gain (whereas some other forms of depression can lead to weight loss), social withdrawal, moodiness, and fatigue. [greatist.com]

    Those who have SAD tend to sleep more, have an increased appetite (especially for carbohydrates), be irritable, gain weight, have a sensation of heaviness in the arms or legs, and have trouble with interpersonal relationships. [seattletimes.com]

    Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder can include the following: Increased feelings of stress or anxiety Lowered mood and/or increased sadness Increased irritability Increased appetite, weight, and cravings for “junk food” (esp. carbohydrates) Change [cornellcollege.edu]

  • Nausea

    The most common side effects of light therapy include headache, eye strain, and nausea. You may be tired during the first week because of changes in your sleep-wake patterns, but this will usually go away after about a week. [northshore.org]

    They include headache, nausea or blurred vision. It is usually best not to use a light box after 5.00 pm because you may then find it hard to get to sleep. Dawn-simulating alarm clocks are also used. [rcpsych.ac.uk]

    Some people experience mild side effects, such as headaches, eyestrain, or nausea. However, these light therapy users say that the side effects are temporary and subside with time or reduced light exposure. [psychcentral.com]

    […] from social interaction, sleep and appetite problems, difficulty with concentrating and making decisions, decreased libido, a lack of energy, or agitation. [4] Symptoms of winter SAD often include oversleeping or difficulty waking up in the morning, nausea [en.wikipedia.org]

Psychiatrical

  • Feeling of Worthlessness

    Symptoms of SAD may include Sadness Gloomy outlook Feeling hopeless, worthless, and irritable Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy Low energy Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping Carbohydrate cravings and weight gain Thoughts of [medlineplus.gov]

    Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder include loss of pleasure and energy, feelings of worthlessness, inability to concentrate, and uncontrollable urges to eat sugar and high-carbohydrate foods. [health.harvard.edu]

    Depressed mood Loss of interest in usually enjoyable activities Fatigue or loss of energy Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness Poor concentration, indecisiveness Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide The symptoms of SAD come back every year, and [emedicinehealth.com]

    […] of worthlessness or guilt) Lack of interest in or enjoyment of activities Suicidal thoughts SAD Treatment In many ways, the treatment of SAD is similar to that of other major depressive episodes, utilizing antidepressant or mood stabilizing medication [lighttherapyproducts.com]

    Feelings of worthlessness, or excessive or inappropriate guilt. Recurrent thoughts of death. This is not usually a fear of death, more a preoccupation with death and dying. [patient.info]

  • Anxiety Disorder

    Introduction to Seasonal Anxiety Disorder Seasonal anxiety disorder is a layman term for the clinical term ‘seasonal affective disorder’. [calmclinic.com]

    Myths and Facts Recovery Is Possible What To Look For Anxiety Disorders Behavioral Disorders Eating Disorders Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Mood Disorders Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Personality Disorders Psychotic Disorders Suicidal Behavior [mentalhealth.gov]

  • Anger

    They may also be more prone to anger than people with regular (nonseasonal) depression. [health.com]

    Practicing daily relaxation techniques can help you manage stress, reduce negative emotions such as anger and fear, and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation. [helpguide.org]

  • Suicidal Depression

    Sometimes these thoughts progress into thoughts about, and even plans for, suicide. Depression is different to the ups and downs from day to day that we all have. [patient.info]

  • Withdrawn

    Psychotherapy Even if symptoms improve with light therapy, people experiencing SAD may still need to address the legacy of having felt lethargic, withdrawn, and depressed for several winters. [fix.com]

Neurologic

  • Irritability

    Some people just find the condition a bit irritating. For others, it can be severe and have a significant impact on their day-to-day life. Depression Most people with SAD will feel depressed during the autumn and winter. [hse.ie]

    Advertisement 4 of 8 Getty Images Irritability Anger and irritability are common—yet often overlooked —symptoms of depression and SAD. Research suggests that people with SAD are significantly more irritable than healthy individuals. [health.com]

    The side-effects of phototherapy, such as eyestrain, headaches and irritability, are mild and relatively short-lived. Overall, the treatment is tolerated well. [theconversation.com]

    SAD symptoms include not only depression, but changes in appetite, weight gain, irritability, anxiety, sleep abnormalities, muscle aches and difficulty concentrating. [nbcnews.com]

    Side effects include eye strain, headache, fatigue, irritability and inability to sleep. This happens if light therapy is used late in the day. Tanning beds shouldn't be used to treat SAD. [aafp.org]

  • Lethargy

    They may experience mild to severe depression, weight gain, lethargy, a desire to sleep more, and an increased appetite or cravings for carbohydrates such as cakes and cookies. Almost magically in spring, their symptoms wane. [prevention.com]

    Common symptoms include low mood, lethargy, and social withdrawal. What is SAD? SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is a common seasonal issue affecting people who don't get enough natural sunlight. [medicalnewstoday.com]

    Symptoms of wintertime SAD include: daytime fatigue difficulty concentrating feelings of hopelessness increased irritability lack of interest in social activities lethargy reduced sexual interest unhappiness weight gain Symptoms of summertime SAD include [healthline.com]

    The symptoms of SAD can vary as it’s a complex condition, but most commonly include depression, anxiety, lethargy and sleep problems. I face the more severe symptoms of SAD. [metro.co.uk]

    Overeating - carbohydrate craving leading to weight gain Depression, despair, misery, guilt, anxiety - normal tasks become frustratingly difficult Family / social problems - avoiding company, irritability, loss of libido, feeling emotionally 'numb' Lethargy [lumie.com]

  • Agitation

    […] finding it hard to wake up in the morning feeling very tired all the time overeating and craving carbohydrates gaining weight losing interest in normal activities Symptoms of SAD in summer include: trouble sleeping not feeling hungry losing weight feeling agitated [healthdirect.gov.au]

    Symptoms of wintertime SAD include: daytime fatigue difficulty concentrating feelings of hopelessness increased irritability lack of interest in social activities lethargy reduced sexual interest unhappiness weight gain Symptoms of summertime SAD include: agitation [healthline.com]

    Depression Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day Feeling hopeless or worthless Having low energy Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed Having problems with sleep Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight Feeling sluggish or agitated [nimh.nih.gov]

    Symptoms of summer SAD include: Weight loss Agitation and restlessness Trouble sleeping Decreased appetite Cleveland Clinic News & More Cleveland Clinic News & More [my.clevelandclinic.org]

    After overuse for 4 - 6 weeks, irritability and agitation which is often followed by fatigue may result. Irritability, agitation and initial eyestrain for 1-3 days appear to be the main side effects. [lighttherapyproducts.com]

  • Sleep Disturbance

    Just because you’re sleeping more doesn’t mean you'll feel rested, however. Other research has shown that people with SAD experience more insomnia and sleep disturbances, and are more prone to nodding off at work. [health.com]

    Change in sleeping patterns. Most commonly reduced sleep, with difficulty getting to sleep, disturbed sleep, and/or waking early and being unable to go back to sleep. Some people sleep too much. [mentalhealth.org.nz]

  • Neglect

    But make sure you are not neglecting your diet. [huffingtonpost.co.uk]

Treatment

"Seasonal affective disorder: an overview of assessment and treatment approaches." Depression Research and Treatment 2015: 1-6. Miller, A.L. "Epidemiology, etiology and natural treatment of seasonal affective disorder." [medicinenet.com]

Drug rehab at treatment for drug abuse center may be another valuable form of treatment. [casapalmera.com]

If symptoms improve, they tend to stay improved so long as you keep on with treatment every day until spring. In some cases it takes up to 4-6 weeks of treatment for symptoms to improve. [patient.info]

During clinical trials, treatments might be new drugs or new combinations of drugs, new psychotherapies or devices, or new ways to use existing treatments. The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe. [nimh.nih.gov]

Prognosis

What Is the Prognosis for Seasonal Affective Disorder? If left untreated, seasonal affective disorder can become more severe and have a negative prognosis. [emedicinehealth.com]

Prognosis Light therapy is considered to be a safe and effective treatment. However, it is time consuming and people do not always stay on the prescribed course of treatment. [minddisorders.com]

What is the outlook (prognosis)? Around 6 in 10 people with SAD continue to have depressive symptoms each year in the long term. However, as discussed above, you have a good chance of improving symptoms with treatment when symptoms develop. [patient.info]

Etiology

"Epidemiology, etiology and natural treatment of seasonal affective disorder." Alternative Medicine Review 10.1 (2005): 5-13. Modell, J.G., N.E. Rosenthal, A.E. Harriett, et al. [medicinenet.com]

Epidemiology, etiology, and natural treatment of seasonal affective disorder. Altern Med Rev. 2005 Mar;10(1):5-13. Review. Texte complet accessible : www.thorne.com National Library of Medicine (Ed). PubMed, NCBI. [passeportsante.net]

Epidemiology

"Epidemiology, etiology and natural treatment of seasonal affective disorder." Alternative Medicine Review 10.1 (2005): 5-13. Modell, J.G., N.E. Rosenthal, A.E. Harriett, et al. [medicinenet.com]

Epidemiological findings of seasonal changes in mood and behavior. A telephone survey of Montgomery County, Maryland. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1989 Sep;46(9):823-33. 27. [passeportsante.net]

Clinical Trials at NIMH/NIH Scientists at the NIMH campus conduct research on numerous areas of study, including cognition, genetics, epidemiology, and psychiatry. [nimh.nih.gov]

[…] bright light therapy. [52] Patients exposed to exercise which had been added to their treatments in 20 minutes intervals on the aerobic bike during the day along with the same amount of time underneath the UV light were seen to make quick recovery. [53] Epidemiology [en.wikipedia.org]

Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology [ edit ] Seasonal mood variations are believed to be related to light. [en.wikipedia.org]

Prevention

"Psychological therapies for prevention of winter depression." Cochrane.org. Nov. 11, 2015.. Golden, R.N., B.N. Gaynes, R.D. Ekstrom, et al. [medicinenet.com]

The combination of treatments and preventive measures best for tackling your symptoms will be highly individual and should be discussed with your doctor. [theguardian.com]

To maintain the benefits and prevent relapse, treatment is usually continued through the winter. Because of the anticipated return of symptoms in late fall, some people may begin light therapy in early fall to prevent symptoms. [psychiatry.org]

Additionally, older bodies are less efficient at using sunlight to produce vitamin D, and seniors are more likely to have mobility limitations that prevent them from getting outside to get enough sun exposure. [agingcare.com]

Prevention Spend some time outside every day, even when it's cloudy. The effects of daylight still help. Begin using a 10,000 lux light box when fall starts, even before you feel the effects of winter SAD. Eat a well- balanced diet. [webmd.com]

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