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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder associated with specific periods of the calendar year. SAD is more commonly found in geographic locations with long winter seasons with shorter daylight hours, less sunlight, and longer nights. This lack of sunlight has been directly connected to mood changes in a variety of populations and is most common at latitudes that experience less light during the winter seasons. In addition, some mood changes have been associated with the summer months in specific geographic areas. This paper will explore the diagnosis and assessment of Seasonal Affective Disorder, including the differentiation of the physical and emotional causes for the mood changes that occur. The paper will also explore the common treatment methods, including behavioral, pharmacological, and biopsychological, attempting to identify the preferred methods of treatment and data regarding the efficacy of the methods (.
According to the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) DSM-IV, SAD is not a separate mood disorder but the term is "specifier," for seasonal patterns of major depressive episodes that can occur in individuals with major depressive and bipolar disorders. According to the APA (1994) a diagnosis of SAD must meet the following criteria:
" Regular temporal relationship between the onset of major depressive episodes and a particular time of the year (unrelated to obvious season-related psychosocial stressors)
Full remissions (or a change from depression to mania or hypomania) also occur at a characteristic time of the year
Two major depressive episodes meeting criteria A and B. In last two years and no nonseasonal episodes in the same period
Seasonal major depressive episodes substantially outnumber the nonseasonal episodes over the individual's lifetime...
Light therapy is conducted with a 10,000 lux light box that can simulate daytime sunlight. The light is believed to trigger the release of serotonin, the substance that regulates mood. Patients have therapy sessions starting at 10-15 minutes per day, and this slowly increases to 30-40 minutes. Studies have shown light therapy to be effective in elevating mood in patients during winter months, and the side effects are minimal.
The use of antidepressant medication in cases of SAD is typically centered on common SSRI medications used for general depressive disorders. There is some concern, however, that the relationship between SAD and bipolar disorders may contraindicate the use of light therapy or SSRI medications, as both treatments can trigger manic episodes in patients with bipolar disorder. Clinicians who are treating individuals with evidence of bipolarity should be particularly cautious about the use of therapies that can trigger mania. These patients typically require a combined therapy that includes a mood-stabilizing agent (Saeed & Bruce, 1998).
Many psychologists and researchers have noted that psychosocial and behavioral issues may also be linked to SAD, and they promote the use of therapeutic interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy. These researchers argue that seasonal mood changes may also be attributed to social and familial issues connected to a…
References:
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1994:390. Copyright 1994.
Lurie SJ, Gawinski B, Pierce D, Rousseau SJ. (2006). "Seasonal Affective Disorder." Am Fam Physician. 1:74(9): 1521-4.
Saeed, S., Bruce, T. (1998). "Seasonal Affective Disorders." American Family Physician. Retrieved from http://www.aafp.org/afp/980315ap/saeed.html. 13, March. 2011.
Targum, S., Rosenthal, N. (2008). "Seasonal Affective Disorder." Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2008 May; 5(5): 31 -- 33.
Neurological Disorder Epilepsy Neurological Disorder Epilepsy -- a Neurological Disorder Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which causes frequent seizures due to abnormal electricity activity within the brain. Epilepsy is considered a brain disorder disturbing the brain function which ultimately affects behaviour and cognition. This paper highlights some common symptoms of epilepsy. It also explains different treatments deployed for reducing seizure activity in epilepsy. Each treatment portrays a different way of taking control over
Mood Disorders INTENSE, PERSISTENT, RECURRING Definition of Mood Disorders Causes Risk Groups Symptoms Diagnosis and Treatment Prevention Proposed Dimensions for DSM5 In a single year, approximately 7% of Americans suffer from mood disorders, seen as depression or mania, likely to turn worse or cause death (Satcher, 2011). It is one of the top 10 causes of disability throughout the world. Mood disorder subjects spouses, children, parents, siblings and friends to frustration, guilt, anger, financial burden and even physical abuse
Bipolar Disorder: Genetics, Environment and Remedies According to the American Family Physician journal, "Bipolar Disorder is an illness that causes extreme mood swings. This condition is also called manic-depressive illness" (AFP, 2000). People with Bipolar disorder often express 'extremes' in emotions where they go from the ultimate happiness and 'high' to the ultimate depression and sadness. These are often referred to as Manic and Depression episodes where "Manic episodes usually begin abruptly
This lighting component is connected by the "IR receiver/sensor to the dimming ballast...[which]...provides the control to change the lamp's lumen output." (Richman, 2005) Another lighting system introduced by Knisley is one that "features a manual override of automated fluorescent lighting settings through use of a wall-mounted control, an infrared handheld remote control device, or a PC workstation." (Knisley, 2005) This system is capable of implementing natural daylight where available which
Assigned Reading II (20%) 1. (20%) Briefly explain the following concepts with an example each: i. Fight-or-flight response Fight-or-flight response refers to the dynamics that encompass the physiological arousal of the body to survive a threat. In preparation for a threat, there are two immediate actions that one can take: either attack or fight for defense from the threat or opt to run and flee away from the threat. For example, when a person
The specific categories include the following: 1) color; 2) smell; 3) texture; 4) temperature; and 5) feelings. FINDINGS of the STUDY The following table labeled Figure 1 in this study states the responses given by participants in both groups in this study and as well provides totals and grand totals for both groups which for the purpose of this study are labeled as follows: Group 1 - Memory Recall Group (Outside Light) Group 2 - Memory Recall