...S.A.D.? The Truth behind Seasonal Affective Disorder Are you S.A.D.? The truth behind Seasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal affective disorder, also known as Seasonal Depression, winter or summer depression, winter or summer blues, or seasonal mood disorder, is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year (Lee, S.A.D.). Although the exact cause for the depression has yet to be found, there are many theories that point to the exact same thing. Most of them, have much to do with the factor of the sun. The symptoms of seasonal affective disorder vary from mild depression to suicidal thoughts, with almost everything imaginable in between (Stein, page 2). Although it hasn’t been established what the exact cause of seasonal affective disorder, there is a wide range of theories that exist. Although Seasonal Affective Disorder has roots going all the way back to 1845, it was not officially classified until the psychiatrist Norman E. Rosenthal noticed that a lot of his cases for depression had occurred only during the months of winter(Waltz, page 1). When he published his articles in The Washington Post, he received thousands of letters from people all over the country who had the exact same symptoms that he found with his own patients in his private study. He went on to release the book Winter Blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder: What it is and How to Overcome it...
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...An Analysis on Seasonal Affective Disorder and the effects of Climate and Lighting on Emotion Brain, Mind & Behavior "Seasonal affective disorder also known as winter depression, winter blues, summer depression, summer blues, or seasonal depression, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer, spring or autumn year after year." In the DSM-IV, it is not characterized as a unique mood disorder but considered a 'specifier of major depression'. (Stephen, 2007) Is it not more than a convenience that the year’s most joyous holidays occur on the onset of the winter solstice? The impact of light on emotion has been shown and linked by numerous surveys and tests in the past. Low or dark lighting has been shown to cause eye fatigue and headaches. Absence of natural daylight triggers depression and poor immune defenses. Insufficient lighting is linked to emotional stress and to physical ailments. Bright light stimulates emotions, while low levels of illumination quiet the senses. On the other hand, an excess of unnatural light does not replace the calming effects of natural daylight. Too much artificial light and overly-bright rooms hurt the eyes and make one feel jittery. (Fisher E. , 2004) The impact of lighting on mood and cognition has been difficult to demonstrate because people in industrialized countries, on average, spend 93 percent of their time indoors, making them largely...
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...Seasonal Affective Disorder Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Abstract Seasonal affective disorder is currently on the rise with statistics showing that more than10 million Americans have been affected by the disorder. Additionally 10-20% has exhibited mild seasonal affective disorder. It is not only for the high number that the topic was chosen but because it affects people of the age between 23 and 27 with few cases reported among children and adolescents (Weiner, 2013, p.101). . The affected are young generation and represent the future of humanity. The disorder affects mainly women compared to men. One of the astonishing facts is that 35% affected individual contemplate committing suicide (Weiner, 2013, p.102). This essay, therefore, will look into the definition, symptoms, how it affects those close to the individual suffering, treatments and options for dealing with the disorder. Seasonal affective disorder is a recurrent type of depression that is related to the seasonal variation of the light. The majority of seasonal affective disorder cases are reported in late fall or early winter seasons and change to normal in the summer. 10 million people are reported to suffer from this mood disorder every winter in the United States of America. The disorder is often diagnosed as either major depressive disorder, bipolar I or bipolar II. Major depressive disorder is the most common diagnosed of the three. A diagnosis of the disorder is made after three consecutive...
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...Depression is a common mental disorder. At times people may feel desperation and hopelessness. If this is one of the moods you are experiencing, then you may be depressed. Depression is a continuing and persistent mood that can interfere with your life. It’s represented by feelings of guilt, sadness, and self-doubt. Most people will get affected by depression at one point in their lives through a close friend or a family member. Whatever the cause, events in your life causes chemical changes in your brain. There are many types of depression Such as; persistent depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and psychotic depression. First, persistent depressive disorder is an ongoing depression that last for two years or longer, also known...
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...Psychological Disorder Paper Amanda Greco University of Phoenix Psychological Disorder Paper According to The SAGE Glossary of Social and Behavioral Sciences a psychological disorder is defined as “a condition in which a person's thoughts, feelings, or behavior are thought to be in some way dysfunctional.” Psychological disorders are sometimes complex and must meet a certain criteria before being official categorized as a psychological disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, also known as the DSM-IV, includes over 300 manifestations of mental illness also called psychological disorders. Seasonal Affective Disorder According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is: "A depressive mood disorder that occurs at approximately the same time year after year and spontaneously remits at the same time each year." Seasonal Affective Disorder is more prevalent in areas farther away from the equator where there is a lack of sunlight. Individuals who live where seasonal variations of sunlight intensity occur are more likely to develop SAD. Approximately six percent of the U.S. population is affected by SAD and another 14 percent suffer from a milder form of SAD called winter blues. Individuals with a family history of depression or who have family members who suffer from SAD are more likely to suffer from SAD themselves. Some symptoms of SAD include craving starchy food, weight gain, drop in energy...
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...Seasonal affective disorder, likewise abbreviated as SAD, is a type mood disorder that is annual consistent with the seasons. The most common SAD depressive symptoms starts late in the fall, continues throughout the winter (most crucial stage), and the symptoms lessen in the spring. However, it is possible for someone to have SAD during the summer season. For example, during the summer time a person may suffer from summer depression and or summer blues, then less depressed in the winter time when it gets colder. It is a type of depression generated by shorter days and longer nights. This form of depression can prevent the sufferer's ability to cope with their daily life activities, but the symptoms usually fade when there is a change in the season. According to the handbook Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) fourth edition text revised, SAD is considered a pattern “a specifier of major depression”, or subtype, of another mood disorder diagnosis. For example, an individual may be diagnosed as having a major depressive episode with a seasonal pattern. SAD was introduced and named in 1984 by Norman E. Rosenthal as well as his colleagues at the National Institute of Mental Health. Rosenthal is a psychiatrist and a scientist who was born and educated in South Africa and moved to the United States to finish his medical training. In all, he has written a total of seven books, and published two-hundred scholarly papers. In the following you will learn about...
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...Mood Disorders: Causes, Effects and Treatment Robert Baker Psychology GE1116 Dr. Angela Isom November 30, 2009 Mood Disorders: Causes, Effects and Treatments In today’s society, people seem to have a lot of problems that are classified as mental disorders. These disorders include: depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, and even seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The immediate stigma that is placed on most if not all mood disorders is that they are sicknesses. In the case of depression, this is not to confuse depression, a normal emotion with biological depression, an illness. Further along this line of irrational thought is the belief that they are not treatable and the person affected is in some way, shape or form disconnected from civilization as we know it. In this research paper, we will attempt to destroy these unfair stereotypes on this subject, attempt to rationalize the behaviors, and shed light on treatments for the various disorders. The research gathered will attempt to understand and answer these questions: 1. What are mood disorders and their symptoms? 2. What are the causes? 3. How can the stigma of mood disorders be removed? 4. What forms of treatment are the most successful? What Are Mood Disorders And Their Symptoms? In order to get a good idea of what causes mood disorders, we first must attempt to categorize what various classes of disorders...
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...the individual and those who care about him or her. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (2015) identifies the symptoms that are typically associated with depression and they include feelings of being “discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in life in general.” Depression presents itself in a similar fashion across the board with varying degrees of intensity in which it is then classified according to its different forms. For example the two major forms include 1) major and 2) persistent. If an individual is experiencing major depressive disorder it can occur either once or multiple times in their lifetime in which all five previously listed symptoms have interfered with daily life (NIMH, 2011) for at least 2 weeks. Conversely, when an individual’s depressive episode continues for at least 2 years, it has transformed into persistent depressive disorder (NIMH, 2011). Persistent disorder is also known as dysthymia and it consists of the same major depression symptoms and may occur with symptoms that are low in severity. Other forms of depression may be classified as occasional or situational and may include the following: - Psychotic Depression: an individual has been clinically diagnosed with depression due to a psychotic break in their cognitive awareness in which delusional behavior may occur such as hallucinations. - Postpartum Depression: a new mother that has recently given birth to her...
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...Snow and freezing rain commonly impede the progress of airliners, make roadways unsafe, and freezing temperatures can cause waterways to freeze over and become impassable. The warmer climates endure similar difficulties to travel, but they’re usually brief and require less strain on the resources exhaused to remedy said difficulties. This argument is not backed by statistical evidence, but by personal experiences of stress and frustration. Physical and mental health are much simpler to maintain during the warmer seasons. There is scientific evidence to support this position. It’s known commonly as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D., which can result in depression (“Cold”). S.A.D. affects the amount of serotonin in the human body, an essential chemical for maintaining positive moods and regular sleeping habits (“Night”). Colder climates are also more prone to illness. Indeed, a visit to the doctor’s office during flu season is common. “Flu season,” according to a study documented by the National Institute of Health, is during the winter months, based on evidence that, “Influenza viruses coat themselves in fatty material that hardens and protects them in colder temperatures (“U.S.”).” However, there is little evidence available that summer...
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...Weather and Mood Bad weather affects some people negatively. “The ancient Greeks linked the four seasons with each of the vital moods (black bile, yellow bile, blood, phlegm)” (Freeman & Stansfeld, 2008, p.266). The Impact of the Environment on Psychiatric Disorder, relating this to mood and temperament has been the question for many scientists and thinkers. Some people suffer from SAD, (Seasonal Affective Disorder), which manifests itself in many ways. Freeman @ Stansfeld (2008, p.271) states that SAD as “a condition whereby there is a pattern of depression occurring in winter, with the episode remitting in the following spring or summer” The Impact of the Environment on Psychiatric Disorder, and a tendency to have both increased appetite (hyperphagia) and increased sleep (hypersomnia), these people become sad and irritable. Others suffer physical pain such as headaches, arthritis and other symptoms, or they become inactive, despondent, and isolated. Both men and women are affected by gloomy weather; however, Dr. Peter C. Whybrow suggests that, “Women are four times more affected than men” (Whybrow, 1997, p.157) A Mood Apart. Depression happens particularly on grey days when the sun doesn’t shine and the atmospheric environment is dark and heavy. People’s spirits also mirror the dark and heavy weather around them as they internalize the environment. The effects of SAD are felt more by those people who live in the frigid zones of the world, such as Canada, Alaska, Russia...
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...The article “Sensory Stimulation in Dementia” discusses an alternative to handling behavioral problems in senior citizen who suffer from dementia. More often than not, older individuals with dementia will experience symptoms often attributed to psychiatric patients. These include anxiety, hostility, wandering, depression, delusions, disrupted sleep, and hallucinations. The most common form of treatment for such symptoms is either institutional care or behavioral treatment. In addition to either of these approaches, however, patients often receive drugs such as antipsychotics or other sedatives in order to alleviate the effects of the dementia. The problem here is that these neuroleptics and similar drugs almost always come with their own respective side effects, including a general decrease in quality of life. One main concern here is that patients who are receiving such drugs to control their symptoms are often the patients who are already experiencing low qualities of life as is because their dementia symptoms are generally so severe. Other recent attempts at treatment include snoezelen, which is another name for controlled multisensory stimulation, where patients are exposed to a soothing and stimulating environment. In this environment, they will receive varied sensory stimulation in the forms of fiber optic lighting effects, color, sounds, music, or smells. The light treatment and aromatherapy have emerged as the two most promising approaches among these in the treatment...
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...Little-Known Causes of Depression There are many well-known depression triggers: Trauma, grief, financial troubles, and unemployment are just a few. But if we are depressed and none of these apply to us, it can be hard to pinpoint a specific cause. In truth, there may not be a concrete reason for depression. But here are some little-known causes to consider. * Poor sleep habits It's no surprise that sleep deprivation can lead to irritability, but it could also increase the risk of depression. A 2007 study found that when healthy participants were deprived of sleep, they had greater brain activity after viewing upsetting images than their well-rested counterparts, which is similar to the reaction that depressed patients have, noted one of the study authors. If we don't sleep, we don't have time to replenish [brain cells], the brain stops functioning well, and one of the many factors that could lead to is depression. * Face book overload Spending too much time in chat rooms and on social-networking sites is a very harmful activity especially for youngsters. A number of studies now suggest that this can be associated with depression, particularly in teens and preteens. Internet addicts may struggle with real-life human interaction and a lack of companionship, and they may have an unrealistic view of the world. Some experts even call it "Face book depression." In a 2010 study, researchers found that about 1.2% of people ages 16 to 51 spent an inordinate amount...
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...Psychiatric Diseases, Disorders, and Drugs LaTisha Davis Psych 240 April 15, 2012 Psychiatric Diseases, Disorders, and Drugs Mood disorders are by definition disturbances in mood or prolonged emotional state. Almost anyone can suffer from mood disorders including children. These disorders range from depression, bipolar disorder to mania. In each of the states of the disorder, the person is either in a euphoric state or extremely sad state of mind. Although a person may experience mood changes in their life, and may be happy at times and then sad other time, it become a psychological disorder when the symptoms last longer than a certain amount of time. Depression is the most common mood disorder. With depression comes feelings of overwhelming sadness, lack of interest in activities, and excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness. People who suffer from depression feel they have failed tremendously in life and therefore find it hard to be sociable, they are always tired, and they never feel comfort or pleasure. They find it hard to concentrate on anything and they lose interest in sex and food as a result. Some of the signs of depression include changes in short-term memory, insomnia, and in extreme cases suicide weighs heavily on their minds. There are two categories for depression; major depressive disorder is the term used to describe intense sadness, depressed mood, and loss of interest in almost everything. Dysthymia is a milder form of depression with the same symptoms...
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...Christine M. Muller Abnormal Psychology Jeffrey Geibel, PhD. Seasonal Affective Disorder It's wintertime, and you feel stressed, lethargic and disconnected from everything and everyone around you. "Maybe it is just the winter blues," you tell yourself. However, the depression and other symptoms continue to persist from the beginning of winter until the springtime, every year. Although you may believe that you, like many other people, are bothered with a case of the winter blues, you are most likely suffering from a more severe form of seasonal depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This form of depression has been described as a form of a mood disorder that, unlike other forms of depression, follows a strictly seasonal pattern. In general, many people suffer from some form of sporadic depression during the wintertime. We may feel more tired and sad at times. We may even gain some weight or have trouble getting out of bed. Over 10 million people in America, however, may feel a more extreme form of these symptoms. They may constantly feel lethargic and depressed to an extent that social and work related activities are negatively affected. Typical SAD symptoms include sugar cravings, lethargy, depression, an increase in body weight, and a greater need for sleep. Onset of these symptoms usually occurs in October or November, and the symptoms disappear in early spring. Frequently, people who suffer from SAD react strongly to variations in the amount of light...
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...Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa, Manila Main Causes and Effects of Depression to Students in Polytechnic University of the Philippines School Year 2013-2014 Debaloy, Phoebe Blanche J. Dela Cruz, Fe Amor M. Pajado, Maricris Q. Yap, May Concepcion A. BSA 1-27 Professor Jerahmeel Christine E. Torrefranca January 17, 2014 Chapter 1 The Problem and Its Background Introduction Depression, also known as major depression, clinical depression or major depressive disorder is a medical illness that causes a constant feeling of sadness and lack of interest. Depression affects how the person feels, behaves and thinks. (Nordqvist 1) Furthermore, depression can lead to emotional and physical problems. Typically, people with depression find it hard to go about their day-to-day activities, and may also feel that life is not worth living. A person who is depressed feels hopeless and becomes unmotivated to do anything. Even simple things like rising in the bed in the morning or eating become large obstacles in daily life. It persists and interferes with their everyday life. This is, perhaps, because of lack of social support, death or loss of a loved one, relationship problems, financial strain, bad grades or problem with Profs, being bullied or feeling like outcaste in every aspect in life. Whatever form of depression, students are experiencing; the purpose of this research is to know the main causes of depression to students especially to PUPians...
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