MIndy’s CallIng

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Have you noticed a change
in your mood this month?
Feel more blue than normal, perhaps?
“There is a type of depression
called ‘seasonal a� ective
disorder’ (SAD, no kidding!) that
produces exactly this result,”
susie margaret, a member of
the WebMD Depression community,
tells another member who
reports feeling down every winter.
How much do you know
about this disorder?
QUIZ
Checkup
HEALTH CHECK
SEASONAL
AFFECTIVE DISORDER
1
How can I tell if
I have seasonal
a� ective
disorder?
2
Should I try
light therapy,
medication,
or both?
Q
ASK YOUR DOCTOR
3
What
treatments are
right for me?
4
Would talk
therapy
(psychotherapy)
help me
during
this time?
1. Seasonal a� ective disorder may
come from:
a. Fewer hours of sunlight, which
disrupts your body’s biological
clock
b. Fewer hours of sunlight, which
can disrupt serotonin and melatonin
levels
c. Feeling lonely during the
holidays
d. Worrying about money
2. Symptoms of SAD include:
a. Sadness
b. Fatigue
c. Decreased appetite
d. Irritability
e. All of the above
3. Treatments of SAD include:
a. Light therapy
b. Getting enough sleep
c. Talk therapy
d. Medication
e. All of the above
4. Seasonal a� ective
disorder can:
a. Go away once spring comes
b. Come back every year
c. Turn into long-term depression
d. Any of the above
Answers: 1. a, b. Researchers believe SAD
may be caused by the reduced hours of light to
which people are exposed in the winter. This, in
turn, can disrupt your biological clock, as well
as serotonin and the hormone melatonin levels.
2. a, b, d. SAD can make you feel sad, tired,
sluggish, and irritable. It can also lead to an
increase in appetite (and possible weight gain).
3. e. As with any major depression, people with
SAD may respond to talk therapy, medication,
and getting enough sleep. Some people also respond
to sitting under special lights that mimic
sunlight. Opening blinds or installing skylights,
getting outside, and exercising can also help.
4. d. Some people have SAD every year. For a
rare few, it can turn into long-term depression.
SOURCES: WebMD Depression Health Center;
Cleveland Clinic; Mayo Clinic
JAN/FEB 2013 61 W ebMD.COM
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