1/13/09

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

If this winter you are feeling blue, gaining weight and waking up tired, even though you might be sleeping more, you may have seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of winter depression that affects an estimated half a million people every winter.  It is caused by a biochemical imbalance due to the shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter.  Ronald Zec, associate professor of neurology and research scientist at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, explains the symptoms.

SOUND BITE: “. . . it is a winter depression, so basically you’re depressed – being sad or blue or down.  In the more severe form you may even have thoughts of harming yourself, of suicide.  Of course, decreased productivity, it interferes with cognitive functions like your ability focus and concentrate.”

Both men and women can have SAD, but it is more common in women and it occurs more often in young adults, age 20 to 40.  The disorder is more prevalent in the months of December, January and February when the days are shortest.  Zec says bright light therapy and increased exercise are used to alleviate the symptoms.

SOUND BITE:  “Usually they recommend it is used in the morning and in the evening.  So in the early winter months, they’re used generally for about 30 minutes, you could be reading or doing something else while you are being exposed to the bright light.  And the bright light is like the light on a bright sunny morning if you were outside and it’s thought that that stimulates your brain and stimulates your formation of melatonin and serotonin in the brain.”

If an individual suffers from seasonal affective disorder and is not helped by bright sunlight and exercise, they should see a doctor for evaluation and possible treatment.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.