Hafsah Ali - Department of Psychiatry
In the United States, 5% of adults will be impacted by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), more commonly known as the “winter blues.” However, this condition is more than what meets the eye. SAD is identified in the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders as a type of depression similar to, but independent from major depressive disorder (MDD) that interferes with daily activity, can be quite overwhelming for patients, and is associated with neurochemical imbalances that occur due to decreased hours of sunlight in the winter months (Torres 2020). These imbalances can impact the circadian rhythm, our internal clock, throwing people out of their routines. Less commonly, some individuals experience seasonal affective disorder in the opposite form, where summer months tend to cause increased stress and symptoms and winter months provide relief. Treatment often includes a combination of typical treatment for MDD like cognitive behavioral therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as well as a treatment that is unique to SAD, light therapy.
A recent cross-sectional study published in 2021 linked statistical significance between seasonal affective disorder and psychiatric morbidity (Fonte 2021). This study looked at university versus vocational training program students to create a diverse cohort sampling from different sexes, education levels, and age distributions. A seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire was used to determine mood changes throughout the school year in the spring and winter months to identify which subcategory of seasonal affective disorder participants fit into. Then a psychiatric morbidity self-assessment scale was used by students to address “physical and mental health,” resulting in a correlation that showed students who struggled with seasonal affective disorders had a higher prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and ADHD (2021).
While SAD may be a controversial diagnosis in the psychiatric world, it is necessary to consider that patients who suffer from seasonal depression may be at risk for developing psychiatric comorbidities that require further follow-up and treatment.
References:
Torres F. Psychiatry.org - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). www.psychiatry.org. Published October 2020. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/seasonal-affective-disorder#:~:text=About%205%20percent%20of%20adults
Fonte A, Coutinho B. Seasonal sensitivity and psychiatric morbidity: study about seasonal affective disorder. BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03313-z
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