Seasonal Affective Disorder, SAD is a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time each year. In a given year, about 5 percent of U.S. population experiences seasonal depression. Four out of five people who have seasonal depression are women.
Usually is self-diagnosable. Symptoms include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal. Even with a thorough evaluation, it can sometimes be difficult for your doctor to diagnose seasonal affective disorder because other types of depression conditions can cause similar symptoms.
Treatment for SAD may include light therapy, medications and phychotherapy. Light therapy mimics natural outdoor light and appears to cause a change in brain chemicals linked to mood. Some people with SAD might benefit from antidepressant treatments , especially if symptoms are severe.
Several studies have suggested that there is an association between vitamin D deficiency and many mood disorders, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
In recent years there has been a surge of popularity of natural or alternative medications. SAMe is one of the better studied of the natural remedies. A small number of clinical trials with oral SAMe have shown that at doses of 200-1600mg/d, SAMe is superior to placebo and is as effective as tricyclic antidepressants in alleviating depression.
Relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi, meditation, music and art therapy might help some patients cope with SAD.
