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HOLLAND
COLLEGE • January 14, 2003
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COLLEGE
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you feeling S.A.D.? By Daniel Murphy Winter brings aching muscles from shoveling snow, the flu, and colds. The Canadian Mental Health Association says it also brings for possibly 750,000 Canadians a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder or S.A.D. The disorder is a type of clinical depression, says Raymond Lam, a professor of psychiatry at University of British Columbia and the principal investigator of the largest study of the disorder to date. “These people have many physical symptoms as well as mood symptoms related to depression. So they have distrubances to the point where their function is impaired,” said Lam in a telephone interview. The causes are still unknown but there are two major theories, he said. The involve biological causes involving the human biological clock and disturbances in the brain’s neurotransmitters. The CMHA says the shorter hours of daylight are what’s thought to trigger the disorder. During the dark days of winter not enough light is produced to stop the production of melatonin, a substance produced in the brain’s pineal gland making people drowsy in the evenings. As well, exposure to bright light increases the production of serotonin in the brain, which sends messages controlling appetite and mood. The lack of light in the winter months means the level of serotonin is low, which leads to depression. “Our biological clocks are basically telling our bodies to sleep when the days are short and this puts us out of step with our daily schedules,” said Rick Kennedy, executive director at the mental health association. S.A.D. symptoms resemble the flu. Symptoms include a change in appetite, decreased energy, a tendency to over sleep, unable to concentrate, irritability, avoidance of social situations and feelings of anxiety and despair. “Some fairly typical features include oversleeping, overeating (which includes carbohydrate cravings) and a pronounced lack of energy during the winter months,” said Lam. A person is considered to suffer from the disorder if they have two consecutive winters without any other explanations for the changes, says Kennedy. Celeste A. Peters, author of Don’t Be SAD, found the disorder is more common in women than men. There are a number of ways to help reduce the effects. People should take noon time walks to get exposure to sunlight and exercise. Getting into the habit of exercising prior to the winter months can help relieve stress and increase energy. In addition, cutting back tree branches, cleaning windows and keeping curtains open allow for maximum sunlight exposure. Another treatment many people respond well to is phototherapy, or light therapy. “That’s when people are exposed to artificial light and usually in the form of a light box for about a half hour each day,” said Lam. “It’s about 20 times as bright as bright office lighting and it’s somewhere between light from a cloudy day and light from a sunny day.” Light therapy comes in many forms. A specially designed lamp, light visors-which have two small intense lights that clip on the brim of a ball cap, and light boxes. It’s recommended a professional be consulted before buying such equipment. “Light treatment is now fairly well established and many physicians will know about it. Many medical supply shops will sell light boxes and are readily available on the web,” said Lam. For those who are severely affected antidepressants may be prescribed and combined with counselling and/or additional therapies. “Treatments like anti-depressant medications and light actually corrects some of those neurotransmitter abnormalities, particularly the newer ones that are specfic to serotonin and dopamine, medications like Prozac,” said Lam. Lam also warns if someone suspect they do have the disorder they should see their family doctor first, since medical conditions like thyroid problems can produce symptoms similar to depression. |
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