Biomaterial Database

Seasonal affective disorders. 1998

S A Saeed, and T J Bruce

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, USA.

Seasonal affective disorder is a pattern of major depressive episodes that occur and remit with changes in seasons. It may be seen in major depressive or bipolar disorders, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical. Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The most recognized form of seasonal affective disorder, "winter depression," is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression, hypersomnia, augmented appetite with carbohydrate craving, and weight gain that begin in the autumn and continue through the winter months. Physicians have many options for treating seasonal affective disorder. While questions regarding the validity of seasonal affective disorder as a syndrome and the mechanism of action of light therapy continue to be investigated, the established effectiveness of light therapy in patients with winter depression supports the usefulness of assessment for this seasonal pattern and consideration of light therapy as an option in addition to existing treatment choices.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010353	Patient Education as Topic	The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs.	Education of Patients,Education, Patient,Patient Education
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
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013664	Teaching Materials	Instructional materials used in teaching.	Material, Teaching,Materials, Teaching,Teaching Material
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