- Phototherapy
- Most effective immediately upon waking up in the morning
- In many ways, phototherapy resembles traditional antidepressant drugs
- However, it is possible this is only due to the placebo effect
- Several studies found no relationship between day length and depression

Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder

The 'seasonal pattern' specifier is applied when an individual's symptoms of major depressive disorder consistently appear during a specific time of year, most commonly during the fall or winter. This particular subtype is often referred to colloquially as the 'winter blues'.

Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern Specifier

- A period of depression brought on by the short days of wintertime
- Sometimes the winter depression alternates with summertime mania
- Symptoms in the wintertime include: depressed, sleepy, slow, and overeating
- In summertime, those affected by SAD experience are more energetic, active, and become thinner
- Predominantly in women and starts in early adulthood

University of Rochester

Michigan State University

Georgetown University

Seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a common and reoccurring condition impacting mood and energy level during seasonal changes. According to research, these behavioral changes in response to the environment are correlated with differing seasonal mindsets.

Seasonal Patterns in Mindfulness  and Attitudes in People with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

This list includes disorders or conditions that are related to depressive states or features but are not currently directly or officially included in the DSM. These disorders include:
-	Climate Grief
-	Depressive Personality Disorder
-	Double Depression
-	Minor Depression
-	Postpartum Depression
-	Recurrent Brief Depression
-	Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

List of Other Recognized Depressive Disorders

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

Seasonal Affective Disorder

While the term originates in Buddhism, the concept of mindfulness has grown to describe a general state of consciousness in which a person is more aware and accepting of their physical senses and thoughts in the present moment. Practicing mindfulness is believed to help alleviate mental suffering.

Mindfulness

People with SAD tend to report lower levels of mindfulness during the winter time compared to other seasons across a span of 2 years. This qualitative difference in the trajectory of SAD has been attributed to increased neuroticism about environmental changes. A theory pertaining to the origin of SAD is the dual vulnerability theory.

Decreased Mindfulness During Winter

Considering decreased mindfulness during winter time and the impact of underlying thought patterns on SAD symptomatology, potential solutions include mindfulness training at the beginning of the season focused on maintaining awareness of wellbeing and thoughts during weather changes, staying engaged with the surrounding environment despite decreased daylight, and using a benefit-seeking mindset during winter to enjoy seasonal features. 

SAD Interventions Using Mindfulness and Mindset

While SAD can evoke depressive symptoms, people who indicated on the Winter Mindset scale that they enjoyed winter as a season, including the the activities and light levels associated with it, also had higher scores on measures of life satisfaction and subjective well-being. Enjoyable aspects of winter include: winter activities, natural beauty, soft light, and coziness. 

Positive Winter Mindset and SAD

People who indicate winter as a season personally associated with darkness, sadness, lethargy were more likely to be less satisfied with life overall and have lower levels of subjective wellbeing. Whereas two people in the same environment may experience the same things, their perceptions may differ based on a factors like attitudes and beliefs. Research suggests there is a mediating psychological factor of mindset on seasonal mood, and by extension, SAD outcomes. 

Negative Winter Mindset and SAD

Postpartum depression can occur directly after childbirth due to a combination of hormones that can induce depression. 1 in 5-8 women experience postpartum depression symptoms.

Postpartum Depression

Although not classified as a specific disorder, some researchers have begun to see that global warming is causing mental health problems for many people, especially those most affected by environmental destruction. This idea has been referred to as "climate grief." Climate grief most often manifests as some form of depression or anxiety.

Climate Grief

Generally speaking, depression is an overall feeling of sadness. More specifically, those with depression tend to experience several things such as: an increase or decrease in weight, troubles with concentration, feelings of meaninglessness or worthlessness, thoughts of death or suicide, and so on. 

Depression

Double depression is a term used for the co-occurrence of persistent depressive disorder and major depressive disorder. It consists of the symptoms of both disorders, along with the intensification of the feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Double Depression

Persistent depressive disorder, also known as dysthymia, is a depressive disorder identified by a long-term, chronic state of sadness.

Learn Before

Related

Learn After