The spring semester can be a depressing time for West Virginia University students, faculty and staff with seasonal affective disorder.
Sufferers of SAD experience a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year, usually during January, February and March.
Nearly 500,000 Americans have some form of SAD and another 20 percent suffer from "winter blues," a mild form of the disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Monday was the most depressing day of the year based on an equation by Dr. Cliff Arnall, a psychologist who specializes in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff in Wales. Factors like weather, debt and time since Christmas were included.
The onset of SAD is usually caused by days getting shorter, said Susan McCrone a professor at WVU’s School of Nursing who specializes in depression.
"I encourage students to get outside especially when the sun is shining," McCrone said.
Regular exercise, having vitamin D levels checked and maintaining a regular sleep pattern are important to fight symptoms of SAD, she said.
The cloudy days of winter increase melatonin, a sleep-related hormone. Studies have shown a link between the increase in melatonin and SAD, said Dr. Raymond Crowel, vice president of mental health and substance abuse services, Mental Health America.
"Research isn’t definitive, but light therapy seems to help many people with SAD feel better," Crowel said. "Our bodies can be fooled into thinking that light therapy is summer sunlight."
McCrone said selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been successful in treating SAD. SSRIs like Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft have all been prescribed to patients with SAD.
A common misconception most students have is they have to see a psychiatrist to be prescribed SSRIs, McCrone said. Most of these drugs are prescribed by primary physicians.
SAD is considered a mood disorder and a subtype of depression. It should not be confused with a major depressive episode, which is more severe, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Symptoms of a major depressive disorder include: a loss of interest in every day activities, lack of appetite, chronic fatigue and sleep disturbances. Suicide is also a concern for sufferers of a major depressive disorder.
"For some, the ‘winter blues’ affects them during the winter months," McCrone said. "For other people, they cycle in and out of depressions unless they are treated all the time."
The reason depression goes untreated is people don’t want to be labeled as "mentally ill," she said. Some also believe it will just go away on its own.
"I encourage both students and faculty to seek out treatment," she said. "Sometimes people with depression don’t know just how depressed they are until they start feeling better."
Free treatment for SAD is available to WVU students and faculty through the Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services.
To make an appointment with psychiatry call: 304-293-6972.
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