Seasonal Affective Disorder

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Psychology & Psychiatry created Jan 24, 2013 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 1

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Psychology & Psychiatry created Nov 27, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

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Psychology & Psychiatry created Mar 12, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Shining light in the ears may alleviate SAD symptoms

(Medical Xpress) -- Millions of people experience depression and lower levels of energy in the winter due to seasonal-affective disorder (SAD), or the “winter blues.” Since the disorder is thought ...

Medical research created Mar 07, 2012 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (9) | comments 12 | with audio podcast report

Winter blues see the light

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Psychology & Psychiatry created Feb 07, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study tests new treatments for the winter blues

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Psychology & Psychiatry created Dec 09, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

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Psychology & Psychiatry created Oct 21, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Fall market jitters a SAD thing, suggests paper from the Rotman School of Management

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Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, winter blues, summer depression, summer blues, or seasonal depression, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer, spring or autumn year after year. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), SAD is not a unique mood disorder, but is "a specifier of major depression".

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 percent in Florida to 9.7 percent in New Hampshire.

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." The condition in the summer is often referred to as reverse seasonal affective disorder, and can also include heightened anxiety.

SAD was formally described and named in 1984 by Norman E. Rosenthal and colleagues at the National Institute of Mental Health.

There are many different treatments for classic hormones (winter-based) seasonal affective disorder, including light therapy with sunlight or bright lights, antidepressant medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, ionized-air administration, and carefully timed supplementation of the hormone melatonin.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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