What does SAD stand for in psychology?
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Acronyms dictionaryWhat does SAD mean?SAD is an acronym for seasonal affective disorder, a disorder often classified as a form of depression that is typically most severe during the fall and winter months. It is sometimes formally or alternatively called major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern. Symptoms associated with SAD are often similar to those of depression, including intense sadness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, and abnormal eating and sleeping behavior. A person with SAD usually experiences symptoms during the winter and/or periods of reduced sunlight. SAD is more common in people living far from the equator and has been connected to abnormal brain functioning due to short days and lack of sunlight. Symptoms often lessen or disappear entirely with the arrival of spring. Treatments for SAD may include medication or specific types of therapy, such as light therapy. Examples of SADBecause SAD is a form of depression, it causes the typical symptoms of the disorder. No matter when your SAD starts, you may feel tired, low on energy, restless, unable to focus, or as if you are moving in slow motion. Dr. Wayne Jonas, Psychology Today, February 1, 2022 After the age of 50, the risk of SAD starts to decline. Researchers aren’t yet sure why. HereToHelp.bc.ca The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. MayoClinic.org Who uses SAD?
NoteThis is not meant to be a formal definition of SAD like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of SAD that will help our users expand their word mastery. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can usually be successfully treated using various treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, antidepressants and light therapy. Depending on the nature and severity of your symptoms, your GP will recommend the most suitable treatment option for you. This may involve using a combination of treatments to get the best results. NICE recommendationsThe National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that SAD should be treated in the same way as other types of depression. This includes using talking treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or medication, such as antidepressants (see below). Light therapy is also a popular treatment for SAD. There is no strong evidence to support the long-term benefits of using light therapy to treat SAD, although research does suggest that it may have a positive short-term effect. See the NICE guidance about the treatment and managment of depression in adults. Psychosocial treatmentsPsychosocial treatments focus on both psychological aspects (how your brain functions) and social aspects (how you interact with others). Some possible psychosocial treatments are described below. Cognitive behavioural therapyCognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) starts with the idea that your problems are often created by you. It is not the situation itself that is making you unhappy, but how you think about it and how you react to it. Changing how you think about certain situations will help you change your behaviour so that the situation no longer makes you feel unhappy. CBT involves having a number of sessions with a specially trained therapist, usually over several weeks or months. Your programme could be:
Counselling and psychodynamic psychotherapyCounselling is another type of talking therapy that involves talking to a trained counsellor about your worries and problems. Read more about counselling. During psychodynamic psychotherapy, you discuss how you feel about yourself and others and you talk about experiences in your past. The aim of the sessions is to find out whether anything in your past is affecting how you feel today. Read more about psychotherapy. AntidepressantsAntidepressants are often prescribed to treat depression and they are also sometimes used to treat SAD when the symptoms are severe. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the preferred type of antidepressants for treating SAD. They increase the level of the hormone serotonin in your brain which helps to lift your mood. If you are prescribed antidepressants, be aware that: It can take between four-to-six weeks for the medication to take full effect. It is important to take the medication as prescribed and to continue taking it even if you start to feel better. Some antidepressants have side effects and may interact with other types of medication that you are taking. An upset stomach is the most common side effect of antidepressants. See the information leaflet that comes with your medication for a full list of possible side effects. The evidence that antidepressants are effective in treating SAD is limited. They are thought to be most effective if they are taken at the start of winter (before the symptoms appear) and continued until spring. Read more about antidepressants. Light therapyFor some people with SAD, using light therapy can help improve their mood considerably. It involves sitting in front of, or beneath, a light box. Light boxes are special lamps that come in a variety of designs, including desk lamps and wall-mounted fixtures. They produce a very bright light. Light intensity is measured in lux – the higher lux, the brighter the light. Before using a light box to treat SAD, check the manufacturer’s information and instructions regarding:
When buying a light box, make sure that you choose one that has been produced by a fully certified manufacturer and is medically proven to treat SAD. The SAD Association (www.sada.org.uk) can provide a list of recommended manufacturers. Very bright light may not be suitable if you:
Speak to your GP if you unsure about the suitability of a particular product. How light therapy worksLight therapy is thought to work by simulating the sunlight that is missing during the darker winter months. The additional light encourages your brain to reduce the production of melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy) and increase the production of serotonin (the hormone that affects your mood). Altering the levels of melatonin and serotonin that are released into your body during the winter months can help to ease your symptoms of SAD. However, this is based on the assumption that the condition is caused by a lack of light and the effect that this has on the hormones that are released in your brain. Research into light therapyThere is mixed evidence regarding the overall effectiveness of light therapy. It is difficult to compare the research that has been carried out in this area because a variety of light sources were used and clinical trials (medical tests) were often conducted over short periods of time. However, several studies have concluded that light therapy is effective, particularly if it is used first thing in the morning. It is thought that light therapy is best for producing short-term results. This may mean that it will help to relieve your symptoms but that you will still be affected by SAD next winter. Side effects of light therapyIt is rare for people using light therapy to have side effects. However, in rare cases, you may experience:
Visit your GP if you experience any side effects while using light therapy. What does SAD stand for Psych?Introduction. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that has a seasonal pattern. The episodes of depression tend to occur at the same time each year, usually during the winter. As with other types of depression, two of the main symptoms of SAD are a low mood and a lack of interest in life.
What is the difference between MDD and SAD?And while MDD is usually associated with loss of appetite and insomnia, people with SAD are more prone to overeating and oversleeping. The primary differentiating factor with SAD symptoms, however, is that they occur seasonally.
What are the two types of SAD?There are two types of SAD:. Fall-onset. This is also called "winter depression." Symptoms of depression begin in the late fall to early winter months and ease during the summer months.. Spring-onset. This is also called "summer depression." Symptoms of depression begin in late spring to early summer.. How does an SAD work?SSDs store data permanently inside an integrated circuit, typically using flash memory. The flash memory inside an SSD means data is written, transferred, and erased electronically and silently — SSDs don't have the moving parts found inside mechanical hard-disk drives (HDDs).
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