Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder characterized by a pattern of
depression triggered by, in most cases, autumn and winter months. This disorder affects about
15% of the American population, and it severely affects about 5% of the population. Symptoms
of seasonal depression include overeating, sleeping more, disinterest, decreased memory and
concentration as the days begin to shorten in the fall. Once winter fully arrives, patients
experience more common emotional symptoms of depression (Raison, 2012). In certain cases,
especially with patients previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder, SAD has the reverse effect
in the spring and summer. During these months, patients experience an elevated mood and
hyperactivity, also known as …show more content…
Furthermore, the mismatched rhythm philosophy is unique to
However, the two disorders cannot be categorized so quickly. Bipolar with Seasonal
Pattern (BDSP) is a version of Bipolar disorder where the patients experiences patterns of mood
cycling, with depression in the fall and winter and mania and in the spring and summer. The
mismatch of circadian rhythms can be a trigger of an episode in bipolar patients. Here, it is
important to discern the difference between Seasonal Affective Disorder and BDSP. People with
bipolar tendencies are more affected by the seasons, but does that make them a Bipolar patient or
an SAD patient? Would SAD therefore be a version of Bipolar Disorder? Or, are the two
disorders completely separate? Dr. Williams had stated that Bipolar Disorder precludes Seasonal
Affective Disorder, meaning that psychiatrists diagnose patients with a single disorder to
encompass their entire situation; a person could not have both disorders. To test the idea that
SAD is a variation of Bipolar Disorder, I took a look at the symptoms of SAD in
depression triggered by, in most cases, autumn and winter months. This disorder affects about
15% of the American population, and it severely affects about 5% of the population. Symptoms
of seasonal depression include overeating, sleeping more, disinterest, decreased memory and
concentration as the days begin to shorten in the fall. Once winter fully arrives, patients
experience more common emotional symptoms of depression (Raison, 2012). In certain cases,
especially with patients previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder, SAD has the reverse effect
in the spring and summer. During these months, patients experience an elevated mood and
hyperactivity, also known as …show more content…
Furthermore, the mismatched rhythm philosophy is unique to
However, the two disorders cannot be categorized so quickly. Bipolar with Seasonal
Pattern (BDSP) is a version of Bipolar disorder where the patients experiences patterns of mood
cycling, with depression in the fall and winter and mania and in the spring and summer. The
mismatch of circadian rhythms can be a trigger of an episode in bipolar patients. Here, it is
important to discern the difference between Seasonal Affective Disorder and BDSP. People with
bipolar tendencies are more affected by the seasons, but does that make them a Bipolar patient or
an SAD patient? Would SAD therefore be a version of Bipolar Disorder? Or, are the two
disorders completely separate? Dr. Williams had stated that Bipolar Disorder precludes Seasonal
Affective Disorder, meaning that psychiatrists diagnose patients with a single disorder to
encompass their entire situation; a person could not have both disorders. To test the idea that
SAD is a variation of Bipolar Disorder, I took a look at the symptoms of SAD in