SAD affects more women than men. Between 60 and 90% of the people diagnosed with SAD are women.

A diagnosis may be made if you’ve experienced symptoms during the fall and winter, but recovered with seasonal changes for at least two years in a row. Some people even experience SAD during the summer months instead of the fall and winter (reverse SAD).

SAD may be treated with light therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Other treatments include the use of antidepressants and other forms of counseling.

The University of Vermont recently reported findings from a SAD study that compared the use of light therapy, CBT, or a combination of the two treatments. Researchers found that one year after treatment, participants treated with CBT had a 7% recurrence rate of SAD compared to a 36.7% recurrence rate for light therapy treatment. Participants in the combination group had a 5.5% rate of recurrence. Those treated with CBT had less severe depression than those treated with light therapy or a combo of CBT and light therapy.

Researchers contribute the lower success rate of light therapy with the commitment that it requires of patients and the resulting low compliance rate. To comply with therapy, participants had sit in front of a light box for 30 minutes each day.

If you suffer from SAD, what treatments have worked for you?

(Image via flickr/Evil Erin)

Post from: Blisstree

Which SAD Treatment Works Best

It seems like just a few Saturday Sanities ago I was talking about how warm and sunny it was outside; now, we’re covered in snow. We have been all week. I still don’t have a winter coat (I didn’t have one last year, either – I can be very serious about my procrastination) and Chopper doesn’t understand why we don’t go outside 9,375 times a day anymore.

Anyway…

This week at Mental Health Notes, I talked about a new study about the television viewing habits of unhappy people, commented on two legal situations involving mental health issues (the older Tammy Lewis case, and the newer Elgin Mental Health Center case), shared my thoughts on the Facing Us 2008 Music Contest winners, provided some epilepsy and mental health resources (thanks, Cleveland Clinic!), and turned to the loldogs for some depression humor.

Regarding mental health advocacy and education, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance’s (DBSA) eUpdate for November 2008 is up (lots of good stuff in there!), Beliefnet has announced the 10 nominees for the Most Inspiring Person of the Year 2008 Award and they’re ready for you to cast your vote, Dr. Brent provided a basic rundown of seasonal effective disorder (SAD) over at Care2.com, the Revolution Health Group offers nine ideas for natural ways to treat depression, and Rick Robinson explains Post Election Stress Syndrome (ha).

In the world of mental health news, research, and studies, after a study that included nearly 5,700 American adults researchers believe people in chronic pain are at a higher risk for committing suicide, researchers who studied both American and Japanese teenagers believe violent video games may contribute to increased aggression over time (um, hello?), and some researchers are toying with a new treatment for OCD (one that may have adverse side effects, apparently).

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel:

• Mark helps us understand how we can turn negatives into positives at A Dozen Steps.
• Mary Emma has a plethora of Alzheimer’s resources for National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month listed over at Alzheimer’s Notes.
• Kristina tells us about ADHD medications not causing genetic damage in children at Autism Vox.
• Susan of Grounded Fitness wants to know how yoga and meditation has changed your life.
• Scott’s talking about Gulf War Syndrome over at Health and Men.

Now, whether you’ve got snow or not, go outside and enjoy the day!

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Is It Too Early To Build Snowmen?

This post is part of Celebrity Health Week at the b5media Health & Wellness Channel. For more information about Celebrity Health Week posts here at Mental Health Notes, visit Introducing Celebrity Health Week: Celebrities And Mental Illness.

Because we’ve already highlighted the lives of celebrities who’ve battled depression, let’s now take a look at the illness itself so you can better understand what these famous folks are going through.

Keep in mind that this post is just an overview and by no means meant to act as a substitute for medical professional advice.

Actually, I gathered information for this post from three major sources: The National Alliance on Mental Illness and their section on Major Depression; the National Institute of Mental Health and their booklet about Depression; and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and their section on Depression.

So, after reading my overview of depression, I highly recommend checking out those Web sites for more detailed information about depression.

Read on!

Quick Facts about Depression

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), depression affects 15 million American adults (5-8% of the population) during any given year.

Depression is more than just “the blues.” Actually, depression is kind of like “the blues” on acid. In other words, it’s more severe and it lasts much longer. Depression can take hold of your life, interfering with your everyday routines, ability to function normally, and your relationships with other people.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

NAMI, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) all list signs and symptoms of depression. Some of the most common depression symptoms include:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, despair, emptiness, irritability, anxiety, pessimism, and/or indifference.
• Loss of interest in activities, people, and/or jobs you once enjoyed.
• Sleep and/or eating too much or too little.
• Unexplained physical pain, fatigue, decreased energy, and/or restlessness.
• Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.

Different Types of Depression

Sometimes it’s not completely accurate to just say someone is “depressed” or has “depression,” because there are different kinds of depression, too. The NIMH gives a thorough list of the kinds of depression, as well as their symptoms, which includes:

• Major depressive disorder
• Dysthymic disorder
• Psychotic depression
• Postpartum depression
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Treatment Options for Depression

Depression can be treated with a variety of medications (such as SSRIs and SNRIs) and therapies (such as psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy). Check out NAMI’s list of medications and therapies used to treat depression, and scroll down the page for information about treatment side effects. Also take a look at the DBSA’s page Getting the Treatment You Need.

If you think you suffer from depression, contact your doctor. If you think someone you know suffers from depression, point him or her in the direction of these resources and encourage him or her to contact a doctor. There is absolutely nothing shameful or embarrassing about dealing with mental illness, and there are effective treatment options available.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Blisstree

Tell Me More About Depression: Signs, Symptoms, And Treatments