Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions
By Kenneth Kee
()
About this ebook
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of medical depression that happens at a certain time of the year, normally in winter.
It is believed that shorter days and less daylight may activate a chemical alteration in the brain resulting in symptoms of depression.
SAD may start during the teen years or in adulthood.
Like other types of depression, it happens more often in women than in men.
People who live in places with long winter nights are at increased danger of developing SAD.
A less frequent form of the disorder affects depression during the summer months.
There are two forms of SAD:
Fall-onset
This is also termed "winter depression."
Symptoms of depression start in the late fall to early winter months and become less frequent during the summer months.
Spring-onset
This is also termed "summer depression."
Symptoms of depression start in late spring to early summer.
This form is much less frequent.
Symptoms normally increase slowly in the late autumn and winter months.
Symptoms are often similar to other forms of depression:
1. Hopelessness
2. Higher appetite with weight gain (weight loss is more frequent with other forms of depression)
3. Increased sleep (too little sleep is more frequent with other forms of depression) and daytime drowsiness
4. Less energy and ability to concentrate
5. Loss of interest in work and pleasure in activities previously enjoyed
6. Sluggish movements
7. Social withdrawal and increased sensitivity to rejection
8. Unhappiness
There is no special diagnostic test for SAD.
The doctor can make a diagnosis based on the history of symptoms.
Depression often occurs with other disorders, such as heart disease or cancer.
It may also occur with other mood disorders, such as substance abuse or anxiety.
Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is important to recovery
Treatment
Just like other forms of depression, antidepressant medicines and talk therapy can be efficacious.
Treating the Depression at Home
1. Get adequate sleep.
2. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
3. Take medicines correctly.
4. Learn to observe for early signs that the depression is getting worse.
5. Exercise more frequently.
6. Avoid alcohol or illegal drugs.
7. When the patient is fighting the depression, discuss about how the patient is feeling with someone the patient trusts.
8. Do not do too many things at one time.
9. Do things that help the patient feel better mentally
10. Anticipate the mood to get better slowly, not right away.
Light Therapy
Light therapy makes use of a special lamp with a very bright light that imitates light from the sun:
1. Treatment is begun in the fall or early winter, before the symptoms of SAD begin.
2. The doctor's instructions should be followed about how to use light therapy.
Exposure to sunlight
Spending time outside or near a window can help alleviate symptoms.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal therapy assists to change the distorted ideas other people may have of the patient and the environment around him or her.
Antidepressants
These prescription medicines can help correct the chemical imbalance that may result in SAD.
The outlook is normally good with treatment.
But some people have SAD all their lives.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Seasonal Affective Disorder
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Clinical Depression
Chapter 8 Bipolar Disorder
Epilogue
Refer Clinical Depression in Chapter 7 below for more details on Depression.
Kenneth Kee
Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions - Kenneth Kee
Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD),
A
Simple
Guide
To
The Condition,
Diagnosis,
Treatment
And
Related Conditions
By
Dr Kenneth Kee
M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)
Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)
Copyright Kenneth Kee 2017 Smashwords Edition
Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com
Dedication
This book is dedicated
To my wife Dorothy
And my children
Carolyn, Grace
And Kelvin
This book describes Seasonal Affective Disorder, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.
(What You Need to Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder)
This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.
If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.
Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Introduction
I have been writing medical articles for my blog http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Condition) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.
My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.
Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).
I then wrote an autobiolographical account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.
This autobiolographical account A Family Doctor’s Tale
was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Conditions
into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale
on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.
From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 900 amazon kindle books and 250 into Smashwords.com eBooks.
Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.
For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.
The later books go into more details of medical disorders.
The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.
Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.
As I tried to bring you the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.
Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.
I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.
I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.
I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.
Chapter 1
Seasonal affective disorder
What is seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of medical depression that happens at a certain time of the year, normally in winter.
It is believed that shorter days and less daylight may activate a chemical alteration in the brain resulting in symptoms of depression.
Light therapy and antidepressants can assist in the treatment of SAD.
What are the causes of SAD?
Less sunlight and shorter days are believed to be linked to a chemical modification in the brain and may be the reason producing SAD.
Melatonin, a sleep-linked hormone, also has been linked to SAD.
The body normally produces more melatonin when it is dark.
When the days in winter are shorter and darker, more melatonin is made.
Causes
SAD may start during the teen years or in adulthood.
Like other types of depression, it happens more often in women than in men.
People who live in places with long winter nights are at increased danger of developing SAD.
A less frequent form of the disorder affects depression during the summer months.
Who is at risk for SAD?
SAD normally starts during adulthood.
The danger of SAD goes up with age.
It is not common in people under age 20.
Women are involved more often than men.
What are the symptoms of SAD?
Symptoms
There are two forms of SAD:
Fall-onset
This is also termed winter depression.
Symptoms of depression start in the late fall to early winter months and become less frequent during the summer months.
Spring-onset
This is also termed summer depression.
Symptoms of depression start in late spring to early summer.
This form is much less frequent.
Symptoms normally increase slowly in the late autumn and winter months.
Symptoms are often similar to other forms of depression:
1. Hopelessness
2. Higher appetite with weight gain (weight loss is more frequent with other forms of depression)
3. Increased sleep (too little sleep is more frequent with other forms of depression) and daytime drowsiness
4. Less energy and ability to concentrate
5. Loss of interest in work and