seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
-
Cyclical
depression occurring in winter, apparently caused by insufficient sunlight.
It is most common in places at high latitudes and therefore with long winters and very short daylight hours. Symptoms can include all those of major depression, and there is a risk of suicide. The cause may be related to regulation of the body's temperature and hormones and may involve the
pineal gland and
melatonin. Exposure to intense full-spectrum light from a set of fluorescent bulbs in a light box with a diffusing screen has proved effective as treatment. Dawn simulation (exposure to low light levels in the final sleep period) and negative-ion therapy can also help.
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Universalium.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — Depression that tends to occur (and recur) as the days grow shorter in the fall and winter. It is believed that affected persons react adversely to the decreasing amounts of light and the colder temperatures as the fall and winter progress.… … Medical dictionary
Seasonal affective disorder — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = Light therapy lamp for Seasonal Affective Disorder DiseasesDB = 11910 ICD10 = ICD9 = ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = 001532 eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D016574 Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) … Wikipedia
Seasonal Affective Disorder — (SAD) See Depression: Recent Concepts: seasonal affective disorder (1984) … Historical dictionary of Psychiatry
seasonal affective disorder — noun : depression that tends to recur with the shortening length of day during the fall and winter months abbreviation SAD * * * noun [noncount] medical : an illness that makes people feel sad and tired during the winter because there is less… … Useful english dictionary
SAD (seasonal affective disorder) — Depression that tends to occur (and recur) as the days grow shorter in the fall and winter. It is believed that affected persons react adversely to the decreasing amounts of light and the colder temperatures as the fall and winter progress.… … Medical dictionary
seasonal affective disorder — N UNCOUNT Seasonal affective disorder is a feeling of tiredness and sadness that some people have during the autumn and winter when there is very little sunshine. The abbreviation SAD is often used … English dictionary
seasonal affective disorder — sea·son·al affective disorder .sēz ən əl n depression that tends to recur as the days grow shorter during the fall and winter abbr. SAD * * * (SAD) a cyclically recurring mood disorder characterized by depression, extreme lethargy, increased need … Medical dictionary
seasonal affective disorder — seasonal af.fective dis order n [U] an illness that makes people feel sad and tired in winter, because there is not enough light from the sun = ↑SAD … Dictionary of contemporary English
seasonal affective disorder — noun Date: 1983 depression that tends to recur as the days grow shorter during the fall and winter abbreviation SAD … New Collegiate Dictionary
seasonal affective disorder — recurrent winter depression characterized by oversleeping, overeating, and irritability, and relieved by the arrival of spring or by light therapy. Abbr.: SAD [1980 85] * * * … Universalium
