Seasonal affective disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, winter blues, summer depression, summer blues, or seasonal depression, was considered a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer.[1]
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV and DSM-5, its status was changed. It is no longer classified as a unique mood disorder but is now a specifier called With seasonal pattern for recurrent major depressive disorder that occurs at a specific time of the year and fully remits otherwise.[2]
Although experts were initially skeptical, this condition is now
recognized as a common disorder, with its prevalence in the U.S. ranging
from 1.4% in Florida to 9.7% in New Hampshire.[3]
The U.S. National Library of Medicine
notes that "some people experience a serious mood change when the
seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and may
also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear
up."[4] The condition in the summer can include heightened anxiety.[5]
SAD was formally described and named in 1984 by Norman E. Rosenthal and colleagues at the National Institute of Mental Health.[6][7]
There are many different treatments for classic (winter-based) seasonal affective disorder, including light therapy with sunlight or bright lights, antidepressant medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, ionized-air administration,[8] and carefully timed supplementation of the hormone melatonin.[9]
| Seasonal affective disorder | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
Bright light therapy is a common treatment for seasonal affective disorder and for circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
|
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV and DSM-5, its status was changed. It is no longer classified as a unique mood disorder but is now a specifier called With seasonal pattern for recurrent major depressive disorder that occurs at a specific time of the year and fully remits otherwise.[2]
Although experts were initially skeptical, this condition is now
recognized as a common disorder, with its prevalence in the U.S. ranging
from 1.4% in Florida to 9.7% in New Hampshire.[3]
The U.S. National Library of Medicine
notes that "some people experience a serious mood change when the
seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and may
also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear
up."[4] The condition in the summer can include heightened anxiety.[5]
SAD was formally described and named in 1984 by Norman E. Rosenthal and colleagues at the National Institute of Mental Health.[6][7]
There are many different treatments for classic (winter-based) seasonal affective disorder, including light therapy with sunlight or bright lights, antidepressant medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, ionized-air administration,[8] and carefully timed supplementation of the hormone melatonin.[9]
