![]() ![]() Dopamine can be converted into hormones that control blood pressure and body temperature, which change depending on the time of day. Others are involved in the production of chemical messengers in the brain known as neurotransmitters, specifically dopamine and serotonin. Some of these genes play a role in the expression of certain genes at specific times during the day or night, which helps set circadian rhythms. Most genes that have been implicated in seasonal affective disorder are active (expressed) in the brain, where they are involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms. However, few of these variants have been verified in multiple studies. Studies have identified variants in multiple genes that are associated with developing seasonal affective disorder. It is likely that affected individuals are genetically predisposed to being unable to adjust their circadian rhythms. Those with seasonal affective disorder in summer have difficulty adjusting to the increased daylight hours. ![]() These individuals cannot alter their sleep-wake cycle to match the night-day cycle of the winter months, resulting in changes in sleep, mood, and behavior. Affected individuals seem to have disrupted daily (circadian) rhythms, such as the sleep-wake cycle, which are normally regulated to match the night-day cycle. A shortage of sunlight contributes to the development of the disorder in the fall and winter months, and too much sunlight is associated with seasonal affective disorder in the spring and summer months. The causes of seasonal affective disorder are complex. Individuals with seasonal affective disorder tend to have another psychological condition, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an eating disorder, anxiety disorder, or panic disorder. In about 40 percent of individuals with seasonal affective disorder, depressive episodes continue after winter and do not alleviate in the summer months, leading to a change in diagnosis to either major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. Thirty to 50 percent of affected individuals do not show symptoms of the disorder in consecutive winters. In some individuals, seasonal affective disorder does not recur every year. These individuals usually have a loss of appetite and sleep, unlike those with symptoms in the fall and winter.įor those affected, it is estimated that symptoms of seasonal affective disorder are present during 40 percent of the year. In about 10 percent of people with seasonal affective disorder, the condition has the opposite seasonal pattern, occurring in the spring and summer months and stopping during the fall and winter months. Affected individuals with underlying bipolar disorder typically have alternating episodes of depression in the fall and winter months and mania during the spring and summer months. In these individuals, additional symptoms often include weight gain due to increased cravings for carbohydrates and an increase in sleep (hypersomnia). In most people with seasonal affective disorder, depression and other features appear in the fall and winter months and subside in the spring and summer months. The signs and symptoms that occur during depressive episodes in people with seasonal affective disorder are similar to those of major depressive disorder, including a loss of interest or enjoyment in activities, a decrease in energy, a depressed mood, and low self-esteem. This condition usually begins in a person's twenties or thirties. ![]() Major depressive disorder is more common than bipolar disorder among people with seasonal affective disorder. People with seasonal affective disorder have signs and symptoms of either major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder only during certain months of the year. Major depressive disorder is characterized by prolonged sadness and a general lack of interest, while bipolar disorder is characterized by similar depressive episodes alternating with periods of abnormally high energy and activity (hypomania or mania). This condition is a subtype of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Seasonal affective disorder is a mental health condition that is triggered by the changing of the seasons. ![]()
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