Also called: Also called: SAD, Seasonal depression, Seasonal mood disorder
Some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear up. This condition is seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It usually happens during the winter. A less common type of SAD happens in the summer.
What causes SAD? Some experts think it's a lack of sunlight during winter, when the days are shorter. In the United States, it is much more common in northern states. Light therapy, in which patients expose themselves to a special type of light for 30 minutes every day often helps. Other treatments include
- Medicines
- Changes in diet
- Learning to manage stress
- Going to a sunny climate during the cold months
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Seasonal Affective Disorder(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/depression/267.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/mentalhealth/depression/267.printerview.html
- Seasonal Affective Disorder(NAMI) - http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Seasonal_Affective_Disorder_(SAD).htm
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Let's Talk Facts about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)(American Psychiatric Association) - http://healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-SAD.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.healthyminds.org/LTF-SPANISH%20SAD%20fctsheet.pdf
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Brain's Serotonin May Explain Seasonal Mood Changes(09/02/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68817.html
- Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment: Choosing a Light Therapy Box(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/DN00013/METHOD=print
- Seasonal Affective Disorder: Treatment with Light Therapy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/seasonal-affective-disorder/MH00023/METHOD=print
- Tips for Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder(American Psychiatric Association) - http://healthyminds.org/sadtips.cfm
- Holiday Depression & Stress(Mental Health America) - http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/depression/holiday-depression-and-stress
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Seasonal Affective Disorder
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Seasonal+Affective+Disorder%22
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Properly Timed Light, Melatonin Lift Winter Depression by Syncing Rhythms(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2006/properly-timed-light-melatonin-lift-winter-depression-by-syncing-rhythms.shtml
- Article: Influence of timed nutrient diet on depression and light sensitivity... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18293149&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Seasonal changes in mood and creative activity among eminent Italian... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18232431&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Seasonal changes in mood and behavior are linked to metabolic... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18213390&tool=MedlinePlus
- Seasonal Affective Disorder -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=seasonal+affective+disorder[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Mental Health America - http://www.nmha.org/
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NAMI - http://www.nami.org/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/NAMI_en_español/NAMI_en_español.htm
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National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
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Seasonal Affective Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/sad.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/sad_esp.html
- Depression - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/depression.html
- Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Seasonal Affective Disorder is the National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/