Seasonal Affective Disorder

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is seasonal affective disorder? " пїЅ Seasonal affective disorder (often called "SAD " пїЅ) is a form of depression that comes and goes depending on the time of year. There are 2 main types of the disorder: пїЅ пїЅ

Fall-onset SAD " пїЅ This type of SAD starts in late fall and goes away in the spring and summer. Some people call it "winter depression. " пїЅ It is the most common form of SAD.
Spring-onset SAD " пїЅ This type of SAD starts in the spring and goes away in the fall and winter. Spring-onset SAD is much less common than fall-onset SAD.

What are the symptoms of SAD? " пїЅ The symptoms are different depending on which form of SAD a person has. пїЅ пїЅ

People with fall-onset SAD tend to: пїЅ пїЅ

Sleep more than usual
Have a bigger appetite than usual, especially for sweet or starchy foods, like pastries or rice
Gain weight
Become cranky or irritable
Have trouble with their relationships, especially if they feel like they are being rejected
Feel as though their arms and legs are weighted down or filled with lead

People with spring-onset SAD have symptoms that are more like those of typical depression. They tend to: пїЅ пїЅ

Sleep less than usual
Have a smaller appetite
Lose weight

Should I see a doctor or nurse? " пїЅ Yes, if you have symptoms of SAD, see a doctor, nurse, or counselor. пїЅ пїЅ

If you ever feel like you might hurt yourself or someone else, do one of these things: пїЅ пїЅ

Call your doctor or nurse and tell them it is an emergency
Call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, dial 9-1-1)
Go to the emergency room at your local hospital
Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

1-800-273-8255 пїЅ пїЅ

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org пїЅ пїЅ

How is seasonal affective disorder treated? " пїЅ Treatment options include the following: пїЅ пїЅ

Light therapy " пїЅ Light therapy involves sitting in front of special, bright lamps during the day. This form of therapy can help people with fall-onset SAD. It must be done with help of a doctor or counselor who knows how the therapy works. Its not something people should try to do on their own.
Medicines called antidepressants " пїЅ The same medicines used to treat depression can help people with SAD. It's not clear whether it makes sense to stop and start the medicines every year, based on when SAD usually starts. There are many different antidepressant medicines that doctors can prescribe. The medicines work in different ways and can cause different side effects. If one medicine causes problems or does not work, there are often others to try.
Counseling (also called "psychotherapy " пїЅ) " пїЅ There is not a lot of proof that counseling specifically helps with SAD. But there is good proof that it helps with depression, so experts think it can also help with SAD.

Experts think that light therapy is often the best treatment to try first for fall-onset SAD, but only if the person is not severely depressed or thinking about suicide. For people who are severely depressed or thinking about suicide, antidepressant medicines might be a better option. пїЅ пїЅ

You and your doctor, nurse, or counselor can decide which treatment is best for you. Some people do well if they combine different treatments. пїЅ пїЅ

Whatever treatment you try, keep in mind that it sometimes takes patience to find a treatment that works. In some cases, people who take medicines have to try a few different medicines before they find one that works for them. Plus, most treatments take some time before they start working. The key is to work with your doctor, nurse, or counselor, and to keep him or her informed about any problems. пїЅ пїЅ

Is there anything I can do on my own to feel better? " пїЅ Yes. Some people feel better if they exercise. Even you do not feel like it, try to do something active for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. пїЅ пїЅ

Also, if you have fall-onset SAD, make sure you get exposed to as much light as possible. Here are some ways you can do that: пїЅ пїЅ

Take walks outside during the day, so that you get some sun.
In your bedroom, put a lamp on a timer and have it turn on in the early morning, even before the sun comes out.
Get a "dawn-simulating " пїЅ lamp, which brightens gradually and turns on before the sun comes out.

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 83541 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. пїЅ пїЅ2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ

Seasonal Affective Disorder

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

Copyright