Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression Symptoms
How Winter Depression (SAD) is Diagnosed
Many people experience depressive symptoms in winter, often referred to as the "winter blues." Research shows that light patterns can affect mood, but whether or not a person can be diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder depends on their symptoms and criteria outlined the the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV).
People affected by seasonal patterns of depression usually notice these depressive symptoms:
- a profound lack of energy;
- too much sleeping, sometimes up to four hours more than usual;
- overeating and weight gain;
- loss of pleasure in life and activities;
- difficulty concentrating;
- worsening of pre-menstrual syndrome,
- and strong cravings for carbohydrates.
This pattern usually has its onset in the fall, worsens by January and February, and remits in the spring. But less commonly, the depressive symptoms occur in the summer instead of winter. Some people might not have all the symptoms and some might have insomnia instead of increased sleeping.
How People Know if They Have Seasonal Affective Disorder
As many as 25 percent of the population at latitudes around 38 degrees north and higher notice these symptoms in winter, though they are not severe enough in every individual to be diagnosed with the disorder. This is according to the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms. (Areas at 38 degrees latitude in the United States would include locations around Santa Rosa California in the west across to Washington DC in the east.)
But some peoples’ symptoms are so severe that they find it difficult or impossible to function. They may slip into a full Major Depressive Episode. This is when a clinical diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder can be made.
More Symptoms of SAD
For a diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder to be made there needs to be a regular relationship between the onset of Major Depressive Episodes and a particular time of year, and there must be full remission of the depression in the off time. This must have occurred for the past two years.
In between that time, there must have been no Major Depressive Episodes that occurred. The diagnosis can’t be made if the seasonal changes also happen to occur with life changes, such as seasonal patterns of work or school.
SAD is not an individual diagnosis per se, it is a specifier added to a diagnosis of a Bipolar Disorder or Major Depressive Disorder. If people do not meet the criteria for diagnosing either of these conditions, then their SAD symptoms do not qualify as a clinical disorder.
SAD and Bipolar I, Bipolar II and Major Depressive Disorder
About one in five people with Seasonal Affective Disorder have either Bipolar I or Bipolar II Disorder and the rest are diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent. It is not clear whether a seasonal pattern is more prevalent in Major Depressive Disorder vs. the Bipolar Disorders, but S.A.D. seems to be more prevalent in Bipolar II Disorder than Bipolar I.
Certain seasons or times of year may also be linked to manic or hypomanic episodes. White light therapy for SAD may also precipitate mania or hypomania.
A quarter of the people living at certain latitudes tend to notice certain depressive symptoms that occur in the fall and winter (though for some people, the symptoms are tied to summer.) For some people, the symptoms are severe enough to be considered a Major Depressive Episode (MDD). People with MDD are diagnosed with either Major Depressive Disorder, or a Bipolar Disorder. If the connection between the season and the recurrence of the episodes is clear, Seasonal Affective Disorder will be part of the diagnosis.
Related article: Causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Sources:
- The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM IV). The studies cited can be found at SLTBR under the what's new link, click on abstracts from the 2008 conference.
Diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder
|
What do you think about this article?
Comments
Latest Articles