Seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder). Seasonal affective disorder: causes

Seasonal affective disorder(SAD), known as seasonal depression, is a type of depression that has a seasonal pattern. Usually, episodes of depression appear at the same time every year during the season of lack of solar activity. If you feel completely healthy during the spring and summer, if you start to feel uncomfortable towards the end of the fall and have symptoms of depression during the winter, you may have seasonal affective disorder. In most cases, symptoms begin in the fall, as daylight hours begin to shorten. The maximum manifestations of seasonal depression are observed in December, January and February. Women with seasonal affective disorder respond negatively to decreasing amounts sunlight and a decrease in temperature in the autumn-winter period.

In the spring, women with seasonal affective disorder are “reborn”, the intensity of symptoms begins to decrease, and then manifestations depressive state disappear completely. Seasonal affective disorder has been recognized as specific disease It wasn't until the early 1980s that Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal and his colleagues officially reported the condition and gave it an appropriate name. According to Dr. Rosenthal, he himself experienced symptoms of depression every winter and spent a lot of time trying to determine the causes of his own condition, such as childbirth and understanding seasonal affective disorder. Dr. Rosenthal suggested that less light during winter may be a major cause of seasonal affective disorder.

It should be noted that some women may suffer from atypical shape seasonal affective disorder, sometimes clinical symptoms Seasonal depression may appear during the summer (instead of winter or in addition to winter).

Seasonal affective disorder is about four times more common in women than men. An increase in the incidence of seasonal affective disorder has been noted in countries far from the equator. In general, women of all ages can be susceptible to seasonal depression, but the highest incidence of seasonal depression is found in women 22-25 years old.

Seasonal depression - causes and risk groups

Most scientists suggest that the underlying cause of seasonal affective disorder is decreased exposure to sunlight over more than short days of the year. A lack of sunlight can cause disruptions in the body's functioning, disrupting the sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms (the body's internal clock). Violation of cycles provokes a decrease in the level of serotonin, which is responsible for mood.

Another theory suggests that light stimulates the part of the brain (mainly the hypothalamus) that controls mood, appetite and sleep. So a lack of light can alter mood (causes sadness), changes appetite (or anorexia) and causes sleep disorders.

Lack of light can affect the body's production of melatonin and serotonin, as well as disrupt circadian rhythm body. Women who live in the northern geographical latitudes, susceptible greater risk development of seasonal affective disorders. At the same time, it was found that low level Vitamin D levels in the blood are associated with a higher incidence of seasonal depression. Seasonal affective disorder may begin in adolescence(more often in girls) or in mature age(more often in women). Women with a family history of depression are more likely to high risk development of seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal depression - symptoms

Seasonal affective disorder symptoms tend to start and end around the same time every year. Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder typically begin slowly in late fall and continue into the winter months. Most women notice symptoms in September-October and notice a decrease in them in April-May.
The two main symptoms of seasonal affective disorder are: low mood and lack of interest in life. But some women may have other symptoms, such as:

Sadness, grumpiness, moodiness, or anxiety;
Decreased activity and loss of interest in common types activities;
Decreased energy and ability to concentrate;
Sluggishness of movements;
Hopelessness and irritability;
Increased need for prolonged sleep;
Overeating or cravings for food (mainly carbohydrates - baked goods, cakes, pasta);
Weight gain;
Closedness (isolation).

Seasonal depression - diagnosis

Main diagnostic criterion Seasonal affective disorder is the dependence of the manifestation of all symptoms of depression on the time of year. If you experience the symptoms of depression listed above during the short, dark days of winter, you likely have seasonal affective disorder. Main diagnostic symptoms are symptoms of depression associated with seasonality.

Seasonal depression - treatment

Light therapy can be very effective for treating seasonal affective disorder. There are two types of light therapy:

Bright light of the device for a limited period of time (30-120 minutes) in the morning.
The light of a device that simulates dawn, when the dim light while you sleep gradually becomes brighter (similar to the natural sunrise/sunset).

Light therapy is effective means for most women suffering from seasonal affective disorder. Positive effect can be observed after 1-2 weeks of treatment. Light therapy should be used within long period, throughout the autumn-winter season. Light therapy can be stopped in late spring.

Sometimes doctors may prescribe antidepressants for seasonal depression, these medications can improve balance chemical substances brain that affect mood. Counseling can also be useful component effective treatment of seasonal affective disorder.
It is recommended to be active during the entire treatment period, as daytime(especially in the morning) physical activity can help you have more energy and feel less depressed.

Seasonal depression - forecast

Treatment for seasonal affective disorder is usually effective and the outcome is usually good. But some women may experience seasonal affective disorder throughout their lives.

Experts in the field of psychiatry note that every fifth person on the planet is susceptible to seasonal mood swings. Usually these are people with a sensitive psyche who suffer from frequent nervous disorders, dissatisfied with life and not entirely healthy physically and emotionally. Seasonal depression It happens differently for each person - from mild irritability to complete hopelessness. According to statistics, in the autumn and winter periods fixed greatest number cases of depression.

Types of seasonal depression

Affective seasonal disorder always occurs at the same time. If there is a deterioration within three years mental state in the same period of time, one can argue about the presence of seasonal depression. Doctors note two types of disease: winter depression and summer.

The first option is the most common and occurs in 90% of patients. Winter depression is more studied and easier to treat. It usually starts in September or October and lasts until the first half of May. With the onset of the first cold weather, many people feel sad and melancholy for no particular reason. These are the first symptoms autumn depression. The disorder mainly affects middle-aged people, approximately 20 to 45 years old. It has been noted that with age, autumnal disorder is less likely to bother patients. Women more often turn to specialists for similar problem than men.

Summer depression

Emotional distress occurs in early summer and continues until late autumn. Only 10% of the total number of people who suffer from the changing seasons suffer from summer depression. Usually similar condition goes away on its own with the onset of autumn.

Symptoms of the disease

Since the majority of people are susceptible to autumn depression, we will talk specifically about this variety mental disorder. In some patients, symptoms resolve within mild form, and are expressed in increased irritability, bad mood, fussiness. The mood can change within a few hours - in the morning a person woke up cheerful and cheerful, and in the evening he became sad and irritable. You can fight this form on your own, without the help of a specialist.

People with more severe disease experience the following symptoms:

Complete indifference to the environment;
Sudden mood swings;
Constant feeling of anxiety and restlessness;
Feeling of complete hopelessness;
Nervousness;
Decreased sexual desire for a partner;
Polyphagia – increased appetite, and the feeling of hunger practically does not go away;
Hypersomnia – long lasting night sleep, which does not bring a feeling of relaxation. Also present during the daytime constant desire sleep.

If with mild form While seasonal depression can be managed on your own, in severe cases it is better to seek help from a doctor. There is no need to be afraid of the words “psychiatrist” or “psychotherapist”; first of all, these are specialists who help restore peace of mind and giving the opportunity to live full life in any season.

Methods to combat seasonal depression

Doctors note that in the fall people get sick much more often, and this is not always the case colds. Many chronic diseases gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, heart disease and many other health problems worsen during this period. This is primarily due to the reduction in daylight hours. Hormones that are produced in certain time years, completely influence human behavior. According to one version, reducing daylight hours reduces the production of serotonin, a hormone responsible for calming the nervous system. A lack of serotonin in the body causes depressive disorder, carbohydrate deficiency, increased appetite and fatigue. That is why people living in hot countries where summer lasts all year round, complain of depression less often.

How to cope with winter depression is the most frequently asked question when visiting a psychotherapist. If you feel that with the arrival of autumn your Vital energy fades away, appears increased fatigue, drowsiness, irritability, take advantage simple tips, which will help restore peace of mind and not succumb to seasonal despondency and melancholy.

Extend daylight hours

A sharp decrease in daylight hours is the most serious cause of poor mental well-being. Treatment of seasonal depression must begin with the elimination of this factor. The only way increasing useful daylight time is full use morning hours. Owls, of course, will not like early rises, but this is the only option. It's better to spend the weekend outside in the first half of the day, even if it's a walk in the park or outside the city.

You need to appreciate every sunny day and spend it outside. If your family and friends keep you company, charge positive emotions guaranteed for the whole week. IN work time The lunch break does not have to be spent indoors. Go outside for at least 15-20 minutes, breathe fresh air. If possible, make the most of daylight indoors.

Taking vitamin complexes

Lack of vitamins in the body seriously affects performance and general health. First of all, you need to provide the body natural vitamins: Herb tea, phytobalms, tincture and decoction of rose hips. Don't forget about eating fruits and vegetables in the off-season. The vitamins and minerals received in the summer were not stored “in reserve”, but were consumed by the body immediately upon receipt. Therefore, even those brought from warm countries fruits and vegetables are simply necessary for our body.

To completely compensate for the lack of vitamins, you need to eat about 500 grams of fruits and vegetables daily. If this is problematic, you can take multivitamin complexes, sold in a pharmacy.

Satisfying “aesthetic hunger”

After wonderful summer days and a beautiful golden autumn is felt acute shortage beautiful landscapes. The dull and gloomy area outside the window only evokes boredom and indifference. Psychologists say that bright colors in the wardrobe they lift your spirits. So take this advice and add red and yellow colors. A colored scarf or bright mittens will please the eye on the way to work, and winter fun outside in a cheerfully colored jacket will remind you of carefree and joyful summer days. Visit cinemas, theaters, exhibitions more often, in short, those places where you can relax your soul and body.

Drinking tonic drinks

Used in in moderation tea or coffee is quite capable of curing seasonal depression. Tonic green tea or drinking a cup of coffee in the morning will help restore vigor of body and spirit, at least for a short time.

When treating affective seasonal disorder Doctors sometimes recommend taking antidepressants. Dosage and course of treatment should be prescribed only by a doctor, uncontrolled use medical supplies can only make the situation worse. The support of family and friends also plays a big role in therapy. If you feel the seasonal blues coming on, don't dwell on it. Walk more, chat with friends, spend a lot of time outside and then seasonal depression will bypass you.

Seasonal depression refers to a mood disorder that occurs periodically. In psychiatry, two types of diseases are distinguished: winter type and summer look. As a rule, winter depression occurs in early autumn and lasts until the end of spring. But summer depression appears at the beginning of summer and ends in autumn. Most often, the disease is typical for women; men are rarely affected.

Symptoms of seasonal depression

One group of people has light form disease, with symptoms such as:

Increased irritability.
Nervousness.
Fussiness.
Depressed mood.

The remaining patients have a more pronounced form, which without timely treatment is further aggravated and negatively affects a person’s lifestyle, behavior, personal and work relationships.

People with a genetic predisposition and whose relatives suffered from seasonal depression are at risk of getting sick. But in people who live in northern latitudes, due to the shortening of daylight hours in autumn and winter, the following complex of syndromes arises:

Constantly depressed mood.
Feeling very tired.
– prolonged sleep at night and excessive sleepiness during the day.
Sexual activity decreases.
Symptoms of polyphagia are characterized by a violation eating behavior, which are expressed in increased appetite, pathological gluttony, the patient constantly wants to eat.

A separate subsyndromal disorder is distinguished, in which vegetative symptoms develop. In winter, during the daytime, a patient with an affective disorder has a sharp decrease in cortisol levels, and seasonal depression only worsens.

Some symptoms of seasonal depression resemble vitamin deficiency :

The person is constantly sleeping.
I want to eat a lot.
Psychomotor retardation is observed.

Main Causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Some experts believe that seasonal depression is a consequence of “ internal clock» human (circadian rhythms). Many psychotherapists associate the development of depression with disorders of neurotransmitters - a lack of norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine.

But molecular studies suggest that the main reason lies in genetic inheritance. Interestingly, winter depression is most often associated with a decrease vitality and increased activity in spring and summer. Latest Research they say that it is not the seasonal ones that are to blame, but, most likely, climatic factors – Atmosphere pressure, temperature indicators.

How to diagnose seasonal depression?

Answer the questions, if there are many positive answers, you need the help of a psychotherapist:

Do you feel depressed, depressed?
Have you lost interest in life?
Don't you enjoy early classes?
Do you get tired quickly?
Is your self-esteem decreasing?
Are you feeling anxious?
Having trouble concentrating?
Can't make a decision?
Do you really want to be alone?
Are you experiencing unreasonable irritability?
Are you starting to worry about thoughts of suicide or death?
Have you suddenly started losing or gaining weight?
Is it getting sweet?
Having trouble sleeping?

Methods of treating the disease

Depending on how complex the disease is, we select effective treatment. As a rule, winter depression is treated with light therapy, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and psychotherapeutic techniques. Summer depression can only be cured with antidepressants.

Please note that pharmacotherapy is used only in the following cases:

Risk of suicide.
Positive reaction to taking antidepressants.
Severe depression.
Serious mental disorders.
Absences positive results psychotherapy, phototherapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to relieve symptoms. It is very important to stick to a diet and exercise regularly.

Features of light therapy

The doctor decides how many procedures are needed. Typically, one session lasts about 40 minutes. A bright light is directed from the source into the patient's eyes. When it becomes brighter than usual, it happens active stimulation serotonin, while the production of melatonin decreases.

The technique most often used by psychotherapists is “dawn modeling”. When the patient is sleeping, they turn on a slightly dim light, then begin to increase the brightness to create the illusion of dawn. Thus, light therapy helps to get rid of.

IN modern medicine We are confident that if the patient starts taking antidepressants in a timely manner, the light therapy sessions will bring the long-awaited effect and will lift their spirits.

To prevent the disease, you should try to walk outside as much as possible. Also eat right - your menu should be rich in minerals and vitamins. Remember: active image life, movement is life. The support of loved ones is also very important.

Many modern psychotherapists see a close connection between physical and mental health. That’s why they recommend: don’t forget to breathe fresh air. If you know that autumn has a negative impact on you, reconsider this time of year: take care of your health. Sports such as qigong, aerobics, yoga, tai chi, tai bo, fitness, and shaping are very useful. Choose your favorite hobby that will bring you real pleasure.

So you must understand that mental health no less important than the physical, so do everything to avoid seasonal depression. If unpleasant symptoms there is no need to prolong the problem, contact a specialist who will advise you in detail and help you decide the right decision. Be always happy and healthy! Remember, life is beautiful!