Seasonal affective disorder treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

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Yes, you can. The doctor will want to schedule a physical exam, and a thorough psychological evaluation, if you’re experiencing symptoms or signs of seasonal affective disorder.

The symptoms of seasonal affective disorder are very similar to other forms of depression and mental illness. Because of this, the healthcare provider may refer you to a mental health professional who specializes in identifying these types of conditions.

Once you receive a diagnosis for seasonal affective disorder, the healthcare professional will be able to suggest appropriate seasonal affective disorder treatments for you.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a subtype of the mood disorders; major depressive disorder (MDD), as well as both bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. In most cases, it starts in the fall when the days begin to shorten, and it lasts through the winter until the spring.

The exact causes of seasonal affective disorder are not understood at this time. There are some theories, but nothing that has been proven conclusively.

Seasonal affective disorder causes symptoms similar to depression and bipolar types I and II. This means that one of the only telltale signs of seasonal affective disorder is that symptoms typically disappear during certain times of year.

While this normally means seasonal affective disorder symptoms appear during the fall and winter, and then disappear in the spring and summer, it can be reversed. This is less common, but does occur.

When signs of seasonal affective disorder appear in the fall and winter, it’s often called “winter depression”. If these seasonal affective disorder symptoms appear in the spring and summer, it’s often called “summer depression”.

The exact causes of seasonal affective disorder aren’t yet understood.

However, there are a few potential theories about the causes of seasonal affective disorder, including:

• Circadian rhythm
• Non-circadian effects of light
• Genetics
• Decreased retinal sensitivity to light
• Dysregulation of neurotransmitters like serotonin

Providing a clear diagnosis for seasonal affective disorder can be challenging. The healthcare provider will want to discuss your medical history, and if you’ve ever experienced any mental illnesses in the past. They will want to complete a physical examination, and may even order some basic blood tests, such as thyroid function.

In many cases, your doctor will refer you to a mental health professional, like a psychotherapist, to perform a thorough psychological evaluation.

Once you have a clear diagnosis for seasonal affective disorder, the healthcare provider will be able to suggest the most effective seasonal affective disorder treatments. This includes any prescription seasonal affective disorder medications that may be necessary.

The most common first line seasonal affective disorder treatments include one or a combination of the following:

• Antidepressants
• Light therapy
• Psychotherapy

Typically, treatment will continue for 2 weeks past the offset of symptoms alongside season changes.

If you’ve been experiencing long-term depression in any form, you should talk to a healthcare provider. They can ensure you’re not experiencing symptoms of an underlying condition, and refer you to mental health professionals for more help.

Mental health professionals can provide a clear diagnosis for seasonal affective disorder and many other difficult mental health conditions.

Your healthcare provider can also provide any prescription seasonal affective disorder medications you may require to treat your symptoms. If you’ve been feeling moody or low every time the seasons change, Maple can help you take back control of your mental health.