Mar. 7--As we "spring forward" and set our clocks up one hour on Sunday, sufferers of the winter blues may have something to smile about.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, sometimes referred to as winter depression, is a subtype of what is known as major depression that is associated with the changing of seasons. Extended hours of light afforded by daylight savings time helps to alleviate and sometimes rid patients of their depression symptoms.

"During winter, when we have more darkness overall, people don't get as much sun and that worsens their depression," said Dr. Michael Lang, clinical assistant professor of internal medicine and adult psychology at the Brody School of Medicine in Greenville. "When we have daylight savings time and have more sunlight, symptoms start to resolve."

SAD, which affects more than 6 percent of Americans, is characterized by depression, an increase in sleep, weight gain, irritability and leaden paralysis, or heaviness in arms and legs.

"Most seasonal affective disorder symptoms stem from daily body rhythms that have gone out of sync with the sun," according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

The hormone melatonin, also known as "the master biological clock," is believed to cause symptoms of depression and is produced in the brain at increased levels in the dark. Therefore, during the winter -- when days are shorter and darker -- the production of melatonin increases.

Treatments for SAD include light therapy with ultraviolet light boxes and prescribed anti-depressants.

Lang, who has seen two cases of SAD during his career, said he follows depression patients closely in the winter and lets them go in the spring and summer when they typically start feeling better.

Abby Stewart can be reached at (252) 559-1075 or at astewart@freedomenc.com.

-----

To see more of The Free Press or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kinston.com/.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Free Press, Kinston, N.C.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

PsycPORT® is a product of the American Psychological Association created to provide quick access to mass-media information related to psychology.
®2008 American Psychological Association
Last updated: 04/06/2008 - 09:26 AM