Which of the following is the preferred method of treatment for seasonal affective disorder?
Light therapy It generally starts working in a few days to a few weeks and causes very few side effects. Research on light therapy is limited, but it appears to be effective for most people in relieving SAD symptoms.
At which season will a patient diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder be likely to begin experiencing fewer symptoms?
The symptoms usually occur during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight and usually improve with the arrival of spring. The most difficult months for people with SAD in the United States tend to be January and February. While it is much less common, some people experience SAD in the summer.
When is a client diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder?
Your provider may diagnose you with SAD if you have: Symptoms of major depression. Depressive episodes that occur during specific seasons for at least two consecutive years. Depressive episodes happening more frequently during a specific season than during the rest of the year.
How does seasonal affective disorder affect your daily life?
Otherwise known as seasonal depression, SAD can affect your mood, sleep, appetite, and energy levels, taking a toll on all aspects of your life from your relationships and social life to work, school, and your sense of self-worth.
What is seasonal affective disorder Research?
Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is a recurrent major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern usually beginning in fall and continuing into winter months. A subsyndromal type of SAD, or S-SAD, is commonly known as “winter blues.” Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer.
How does seasonal affective disorder work?
The main theory is that a lack of sunlight might stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus working properly, which may affect the: production of melatonin – melatonin is a hormone that makes you feel sleepy; in people with SAD, the body may produce it in higher than normal levels.
Does light therapy work for seasonal affective disorder?
It's thought that light therapy is best for producing short-term results. This means it may help relieve your symptoms when they occur, but you might still be affected by SAD next winter. When light therapy has been found to help, most people noticed an improvement in their symptoms within a week or so.
What is the best antidepressant for seasonal affective disorder?
The initial drug of choice for winter SAD is typically a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) [20], consistent with initial treatment in the general population of patients with unipolar major depression.
What is light therapy for SAD?
A light therapy box mimics outdoor light. It's thought that this type of light may cause a chemical change in the brain that lifts your mood and eases other symptoms of SAD , such as being tired most of the time and sleeping too much. Generally, the light box should: Provide an exposure to 10,000 lux of light.
How do you prepare for seasonal affective disorder?
Lifestyle Changes Can Help Relieve Seasonal Affective DisorderTake a trip. “Go to Florida or the Bahamas — someplace south with a lot of sun,” Duckworth suggests. ... Maintain relationships with friends and family. “If you go to church, don't stop,” Duckworth says. ... Don't self-medicate. ... Take care of your general health.
Where is seasonal affective disorder most common?
Symptoms of depression may worsen seasonally if you have one of these conditions. Living far from the equator. SAD appears to be more common among people who live far north or south of the equator. This may be due to decreased sunlight during the winter and longer days during the summer months.
How can you help someone who is SAD?
While light therapy alone does prove effective for some, it's not enough for everyone. In addition to having a balanced diet and exercising daily, antidepressant medication and psychotherapy, with or without light therapy, has also proven effective in treating symptoms of SAD.
How to deal with seasonal depression?
Some evidence supports the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for coping with seasonal depression. A type of psychotherapy, CBT helps people identify negative thoughts and replace them with more positive ones. With CBT, individuals are taught that depression from SAD is not a choice but an innate part of their behavior. As a result, the individual is taught to refocus negative energy by reading a book, spending time with friends, or taking up a new hobby. CBT can be used as a stand-alone treatment method or used in conjunction with other SAD treatment methods.
What is the best treatment for SAD?
Antidepressants are often an effective way to help combat SAD, especially if the symptoms are severe and other methods of treatment aren’t working. Medications are also helpful if you are experiencing other forms of depression on top of SAD.
Why do I feel sad when the temperature drops?
Because you are stuck inside for most of the day, you may begin to experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD). A type of depression, SAD typically comes and goes with the seasons, but it can leave you feeling sad and blue and extremely fatigued.
Is seasonal affective disorder a form of depression?
Seasonal affective disorder is very similar to regular depression. Individuals with SAD may actually have more symptoms of depression than those who have been diagnosed with regular depression; however, these symptoms only occur seasonally. SAD is a milder form of a major depressive disorder. One notable difference is that, with SAD, there will be times of the year where you can laugh and receive comfort and live a somewhat normal life. With depression, it can be tough to get enjoyment from anything or take part in your usual social activities. Depression also often brings symptoms of body aches, feelings of worthlessness, and suicidal thoughts.