| January and February are peak months in the Northern Hemisphere for development of seasonal affective disorder Although winter in the Northern Hemisphere is associated with New Year celebrations as well as other holidays specific to religions and cultures, it is also the season when changes in light and temperature combined with stress can increase anxiety and cause depression. According to the National Mental Health Association, the most difficult months for people affected by seasonal affective disorder are January and February: Younger individuals and women are at higher risk for the disorder. According to Andrea Rogers of the Psychiatry Department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, production of melatonin increases as the daylight hours become fewer before the Winter Solstice, and the elevated hormone level can cause depressive episodes. Phototherapy has been shown to suppress secretion of melatonin in some people significantly impaired by seasonal affective disorder. The device most often used in the United States is a bank of white fluorescent lights on a metal reflector and shield with a plastic screen. For patients with mild symptoms, spending time outdoors during the day or arranging homes and work places to receive more sunlight can be helpful. Experts advise individuals with a history of seasonal depression to prepare themselves and their families to recognize signs of early symptoms and to avoid excessive use of alcohol, which may trigger or aggravate feelings of anxiety or depression. People who show signs of mood disorder should feel comfortable seeking medical help. It is also the time of year to remind mental-health
professionals to raise their index of suspicion for seasonal affective
disorder, as well as other cases of anxiety and depression, and
to consider which patients or individuals referred for consultation
may need treatment. |