Biomaterial Database

[Seasonal affective disorders]. 1995

E M Christensen, and A Gjerris

Psykiatrisk afdeling E, Bispebjerg Hospital, København.

In 1984 Rosenthal described for the first time the syndrome "Seasonal Affective Disorder", SAD, characterized by annual recurrent depressive episodes in the autumn and winter months possibly followed by mania/hypomania in the summer months. The depressive phases showed atypical symptoms such as hypersomnia, carbohydrate-craving, and weight gain. Melatonin seems to be an indicator of disturbed circadian rhythm rather than the cause of SAD. The importance of other circadian and annual biological rhythm in relation to SAD and other depressive syndromes is quite unknown. SAD differs from classical manic-depressive disorders by frequency, severity, symptomatology, and the typical seasonal variations, and is probably not a subgroup of the classical affective disorders, but an extreme variation of the normal seasonal affective variations seen in the general population. Light therapy can be used successfully in depressive states in SAD.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008550	Melatonin	A biogenic amine that is found in animals and plants. In mammals, melatonin is produced by the PINEAL GLAND. Its secretion increases in darkness and decreases during exposure to light. Melatonin is implicated in the regulation of SLEEP, mood, and REPRODUCTION. Melatonin is also an effective antioxidant.
D010789	Phototherapy	Treatment of disease by exposure to light, especially by variously concentrated light rays or specific wavelengths.	Blue Light Therapy,Blue-light Therapy,Light Therapy,Photoradiation Therapy,Red Light Phototherapy,Therapy, Photoradiation,Blue Light Therapies,Blue-light Therapies,Light Phototherapies, Red,Light Phototherapy, Red,Light Therapies,Light Therapies, Blue,Light Therapy, Blue,Photoradiation Therapies,Phototherapies,Phototherapies, Red Light,Phototherapy, Red Light,Red Light Phototherapies,Therapies, Blue Light,Therapies, Blue-light,Therapies, Light,Therapies, Photoradiation,Therapy, Blue Light,Therapy, Blue-light,Therapy, Light
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016574	Seasonal Affective Disorder	A syndrome characterized by depressions that recur annually at the same time each year, usually during the winter months. Other symptoms include anxiety, irritability, decreased energy, increased appetite (carbohydrate cravings), increased duration of sleep, and weight gain. SAD (seasonal affective disorder) can be treated by daily exposure to bright artificial lights (PHOTOTHERAPY), during the season of recurrence.	Seasonal Mood Disorder,Winter Depression,Seasonal Affective Disorders,Affective Disorder, Seasonal,Depression, Winter,Disorder, Seasonal Affective,Disorder, Seasonal Mood,Mood Disorder, Seasonal,Seasonal Mood Disorders