Seasonal Affective Disorder

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER by Lien Fajardo

Abstract

Depression is a psychological condition known for its negative influence on the human mind and body. Fortunately, there are different types of depression identified today. One of them is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or Winter Blues. The following research is intended to compile specific aspects related to the disease. Topics include the definition for this type of depression as well as the symptoms, causes and available treatments.

Depression is a psychological illness that has a profound influence on human society. All studies about depression have shown that the condition affects people differently in different aspects of their life, during a special time of the year, or due to significant events. The variation on behaviors expressed by depressed people has motivated psychology experts to have a better understanding of the disease. The specific disorder that affects a certain part of the population during the season changes has been called, by specialists, Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The main objective of this research centers on providing the reader with sufficient information to have a better understanding of this type of depression. In order to achieve this goal, some questions need to be answered. Those questions are:

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

What are the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?

What causes the disease?

What are the available treatments?

All of these questions will be answer with the help of the consulted sources.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, as it is often called “is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year” (Mayo Clinic, 2011, p.1). It is more related to the winter months due to the drastic decrease in the amount of sunlight during the changes of the season. According to Mayo Clinic (2011) studies “the symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months” (p.1) and can last into the early spring.

Seasonal Affective Disorder “is a common affliction for those who live in our northern climate.”(John M. Grohol, 2003, p. 1). Due to the latitude’s influences, those people who live farther from the equator will experience more dramatic changes in the light intensity during the season’s changes. In other words the farther from the equator the bigger are the chances to suffer from S.A.D. It is important to notice that about 5 % of the population may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, as John M. Grohol (2003) mentions in his article “About the Winter Blues”

What are the symptoms