Seasonal Affective Disorder - 869 Words

Alaskans experiences on average about five hours of sunlight during the winter months, sometimes living in Alaska during the winter can take its toll on a person. The year 1984 was when Seasonal Affective Disorder first became known in a research paper at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Seasonal Affective Disorder mainly affects people in the winter season, but can also affect people during the summer seasons. Seasonal Affective Disorder is best understood as a form of depression that affects people in the winter and, less commonly, in the summer. This paper will help provide a better understanding of S.A.D. and how it affects people living in Arctic climates. Seasonal affective disorder is a form of†¦show more content†¦McMahon , et al, 2014). Another factor that can play into S.A.D. is melatonin, which helps with sleep and wake cycles. Rosenthal, et al, notes how the pineal gland, the gland that produces melatonin, will react to dark surroundings with drowsiness that can lead people to being lethargic (as cited in Melrose, 2015). When melatonin increases and serotonin decreases, the offset of the proteins can cause circadian rhythms to be disrupted, which is the bodies â€Å"24 hour† clock. Researcher Melrose writes that â€Å"†¦circadian rhythms respond to the rhythmic light-dark changes that occur daily and throughout each of the seasons.† (2015). People with S.A.D. disorder normally find that their circadian rhythms are off beat and timed differently with day lengths, for example feeling tired in the middle of the day while being wide awake or feeling wide awake when it would normally be time to sleep. Treatments that follow with the diagnose of Seasonal Affective Disorder are antidepressant medications, light therapy, vitamin D and counseling. Cheung, et al, (as cited in Melrose, 2015) reports their findings with the antidepressant, fluoxetine and discovered that the medicine was just as effective as light therapy. Light therapy is typically used in the mornings to help with circadian rhythms to help set the persons â€Å"clock†. Light therapy usually consists of people sitting in front ofShow MoreRelatedSeasonal Affective Disorder2032 Words   |  8 Pagesvaliantly try to diet. People can often find it difficult to focus at work or in a relationships, feel down in the dumps, or maybe even depressed. If a person says yes to any one of these criteria, than they may be experiencing a disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D), or also known as the winter blues. A current study shows that the population that lives in the Northern America and European. In its very bas ic form, S.A.D effects 6% of all Americans suffer from this distress, SeasonalityRead MoreSeasonal Affective Disorder Essay1091 Words   |  5 PagesSeasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a common problem of people living in northern United States. People who are affected by this disorder commonly suffer from depression, lethargy, inability to concentrate, overeating and weight gain. People from the north tend to suffer more from this disorder because of the shortened days. It appears, that due to the deficiency of sunlight some people suffer from these symptoms. The shortened days have a hormonal effect onRead MoreTheoretical Explanations on Seasonal Affective Disorder2866 Words   |  11 PagesEssay Question: A review of different theoretical explanations on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Introduction: This review will demonstrate a critical awareness of research-based literature in the field of Clinical Psychology and review theoretical explanations on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD can be referred to in many different ways. The most famous include â€Å"winter depression†, â€Å"winter blues† or â€Å"seasonal depression† (Rosenthal, 1998; Marshall and Cheevers, 2006). However, other namesRead MoreFactors Affecting Seasonal Affective Disorder1571 Words   |  7 Pages1. Although many studies have focused on individual factors relating to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), this study sought to extend such research by determining whether cognitive, behavioral and psychophysiological factors that associate to individuals with nonseasonal depression would correlate to those of SAD (Rohan, Sigmon Dorhofer, 2003). 2. Before gathering the data, the researchers had a couple hypotheses in mind. They first hypothesized that women with a history of SAD would encounterRead More The Roots of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Essay2072 Words   |  9 PagesThis was when I learned of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a psychological disorder marked by the change in seasons. It nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; McClain 2 seemed simple to me at first, yet when I learned more about the disorder and the people who it affectedRead MoreEssay about A Critical View of Seasonal Affective Disorder2270 Words   |  10 PagesA Critical View of Seasonal Affective Disorder Abstract This paper is intended to be a critical view of Seasonal Affective Disorder. In order to understand fully the biological and psychological components of the disease, as well as its possible causes and treatments, it is necessary to compile and interpret previously conducted research. Such is the purpose of this paper. First, the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder will be explained and illustrated using data and case studies. SecondRead MoreDifferent Methods Of Preventing Vitamin D Deficiency And Seasonal Affective Disorder1742 Words   |  7 PagesSeasonal affective disorder is a mood disorder characterized by depression, which occurs around the same time every year (Partonen, 1998). It is hypothesized that being deficient in vitamin D is a reason for having seasonal affective disorder. We have researched four different methods of preventing vitamin D deficiency and seasonal affective disorder. The most used methods of achieving adequate vitamin D levels were found to be indoor tanning, natural light, light therapy and vitamin D supplementationRead More Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Clear Link Between the Outside and the Inside of the Brain2521 Words   |  11 PagesSeasonal Affective Disorder: A Clear Link Between the Outside and the Inside of the Brain And God said, Let there be light; And there was light. And God saw that the light was good; And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. (Genesis 1:3-5) (1) The sun has been an endless source of inspiration, both physical and spiritual, throughout the ages. For its light, warmth, andRead MoreDraft 2.1 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is defined as â€Å"a cyclic illness characterized by500 Words   |  2 PagesDraft 2.1 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is defined as â€Å"a cyclic illness characterized by recurrent episodes of fall/winter depression alternating with periods of spring/summer euthymia (norma l mood) or hypomania (mild elation and behavioral activation)† (2). There has been much research done to support the SAD and to find effective treatments for the annual malady such as bright light therapy. SAD generally occurs in the winter months, beginning around November and ending around March. PeopleRead MoreDepression And Seasonal Affective Disorder885 Words   |  4 Pageshealth and optimal functioning are, of course, very important in any discussion of public health. Depression and more specifically Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can happen to anyone, and it is important to be treated when experiencing health problems like these. While I have never experienced seasonal depression, its temporal nature and the treatment of the disorder interest me. I researched SAD when I considered studying it as a topic for my undergraduate senior thesis. During the thesis preparation