- According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, seasonal depression was once thought to be a purely psychological problem, considering the fact that most people who suffered from this affliction generally would not exhibit any symptoms until the fall and winter holiday seasons. The associated loneliness and feelings of inadequacy were seen as side effects of being away from loved ones and of not reaching goals, issues that become more apparent during periods of introspection and life review that are often part of Thanksgiving and Christmas activities.
- According to Carol E. Watkins, MD, with the Northern County Psychiatric Associates, a scientific study of seasonal depression led to certain commonalities that were discovered among test subjects in examinations of environmental factors that were either present or lacking. One of the more common factors apparent in a majority of study subjects was a lack of access to light, either natural or manmade, that was seen to have a noticeable physiological affect. These findings suggested that fall and winter months, with their lessened availability of sunlight, were more often the times when depression symptoms set in.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several symptoms that are shared among children who have exhibited signs of SAD. Changes in appetite and energy levels are noticeable during fall and winter months, as are increased episodes of anxiety, irritability and resistance to social activities. A tendency toward fatigue, a lack of concentration and an expressed need for extra sleep are also reported commonalities in children who may have seasonal depression.
- According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, medical professionals who attempt to diagnose suspected seasonal depression children will analyze environmental aspects and psychiatric conditions that are present. Changes in appetite, sleep patterns and behavior or social interaction accompanied by signs of anger or self-loathing may well indicate a depressive disorder, especially if these occur specifically and routinely during fall and winter months. The home environment may also be examined as to general living conditions, including the availability of light.
- Methods that address SAD in children will include light therapy, either within an indoor environment or by increasing the time spent outdoors in sunlight. In some cases, the circadian sleep rhythms may have been altered, in which case efforts will be made to realign the child's sleeping patterns. Medications, including serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as melatonin or antidepressants such as flouxetine, may be prescribed to regulate biochemical processes that may be contributing to seasonal depression in children.
