Seasonal Affective Disorder

  What are the treatments for this disorder and is it recognized as a real disorder amoung the mental health community.
  Are meds taken year round or just during the low-light, cold seasons? Shoud my MD be able to handle this or should I go to a
  mental health person?  Winter is a hard time for me and I'm sure this is my problem.

[HFHS.MD-AJ]

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Dear BRS,
It is recognized that a number of depressive episodes in Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar I, and Bipolar II Disorders may have a seasonal component. Individuals with a seasonal pattern to their mood disorders tend to experience depressive episodes during a particular season, most commonly winter.  Women comprise 60 to 90 % of these individuals. The essential feature is the onset and remission of Major Depressive episodes at
characteristic times of the year. In most cases, the episodes begin in the winter or fall, and remit in the spring. Less commonly, there may be recurrent depressive episodes during summer. This pattern of onset and remission of episodes must have occurred during the last 2 years, without any non-seasonal episodes occurring during this period. In addition, the seasonal episodes must substantially outnumber any non-seasonal episodes over the course of the individual's lifetime. Symptoms during these episodes are often characterized by hypersomnia (increased sleep), over-eating, weight gain, and low energy.
The Seasonal Pattern specifier does not apply to those situations in which the pattern is better explained by seasonally linked psychosocial stressors (e.g. seasonal unemployment or anniversary of a death).
People with a seasonal pattern to their depressive episodes are likely to respond to treatment with bright visible-spectrum light therapy, although there are no adequate studies to evaluate light therapy in non-seasonally depressed people. Light therapy should be under medical supervision. Trials of antidepressants are often indicated and are usually tried. You may want to discuss with your doctor about appropriate referral for treatment.
I hope you find this information helpful. It is provided for educational purposes only, and should not replace consultation with your doctor.
*Keywords: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), light therapy, Major Depressive Disorder, manic depression, bipolar disorder