Durban - For some people, winter marks the start of a relentless and recurrent cycle of depression that affects their ability to function emotionally, physically and socially.
Known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the condition is classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a “specifier” in a major depression.
In other words, patients with SAD experience episodes of major depression that tend to recur at specific times of the year. These episodes may take the form of major depressive or bipolar disorders.
In layman’s terms, SAD is a type of depression that occurs at the same time of the year – either in winter or summer, but most often winter and so severely that it inhibits normal function.
Psychiatrist Dr Theona Ballyram says, “SAD is so much more than just a feeling of seasonal sadness. It is a depression that presents with significant symptoms that are severe and persistent and recurrent, and prevent a person from performing basic functions during the season in which they are affected.”
Symptoms of SAD include a feeling of depression, anxiety, hopelessness, lethargy, social withdrawal, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, as well as an inability to concentrate.
Although SAD is more often associated with the onset of winter, there are those who are similarly affected in the summer months – although Ballyram says the symptoms differ in how they manifest.
“Those affected by Winter Seasonal Affective Disorder tend to experience an increase in lethargy and appetite and an inability to wake up, while those affected by Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder tend to experience an increase in anxiety and insomnia, coupled with a decrease in appetite.”
Whichever way the condition presents, it can become crippling for sufferers – not least because of its tendency to remit and recur, a symptom that should make the condition easier to diagnose but can complicate diagnosis as patients feel that they are “better” once the season comes to an end and thus often delay seeking help.
Ballyram says the disorder is not completely understood and there are several theories about its causes, one of which relates back to our ancestors hibernating over the winter months.
“What we do know is that there is a genetic component to the disorder and it is definitely related to a disruption of the circadian rhythms and a dis-regulation of certain neural transmitters such as serotonin and hormones like melatonin,” she says.
The human circadian rhythm can be roughly explained as our internal clock, which is controlled by a variety of genes, but can be modulated by external cues such as sunlight and temperature. Serotonin is a well-known mood stabiliser, while melatonin plays an important role in determining eating and sleeping patterns.
For some people, a change in sunlight and temperature not only causes havoc with their internal body clock, but also results in a drop in serotonin levels and a disruption of melatonin levels – all of which combine to create a severe depressive episode.
Ballyram says those who have a first-degree relative who suffers from depression or bipolar disorder are also more at risk of suffering from SAD.
But the news is not all bad – once correctly diagnosed, SAD can be treated through a combination of therapies, including biological, psychological and psychosocial.
“There are a range of anti-depressants and mood stabilisers that have proven to be quite successful in the treatment of SAD, especially with the adjunctive use of melatonin and even the likes of light therapy,” says Ballyram.
She says it is imperative that anyone suffering from a mood disorder, such as SAD, should always take a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, to ensure they are treating the condition holistically and not in isolation.
SAD facts and figures…
l SAD is more common the further North you live.
l Another 10 to 20 percent may have mild SAD.
l SAD is more common in women than in men.
l Typical age of onset is 20.
l Some people experience symptoms severe enough to affect their quality of life. About 6 percent require hospitalisation.
l Many patients with SAD report at least one close relative with a psychiatric disorder, most frequently a severe depressive disorder (55 percent) or alcohol abuse (34 percent).
Even with a thorough evaluation, it can sometimes be difficult for a doctor or mental health provider to diagnose SAD, because other types of depression or other mental health conditions can cause similar symptoms.
To be diagnosed with SAD, you must meet criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
The manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental conditions and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.
The following criteria must be met for a diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder:
l You have experienced depression and other symptoms for at least two-consecutive years, during the same season every year.
l The periods of depression have been followed by periods without depression.
l There are no other explanations for the changes in your mood or behaviour. - The Mercury