Seasonal Affective Disorder (SADS) is a condition in which feelings of sadness and depression appear to be associated with the amount of light a person is exposed to on a daily basis. People who suffer from SADS begin to have symptoms in October, a time in which the number of daylight hours begins to be noticeably decreased. The condition worsens as the season approaches the Winter Solstice, the darkest time of the year. Treatment for this condition frequently involves a person spending a few minutes a day in front of lamp with special bulbs to compensate for the lack of sunlight at this time of the year.

| Mood Disorders | Depression |

Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymic Disorder is a type of mood disorder in which the person experiences chronic feelings of emptiness, sadness and loneliness. Unfortunately, this disorder is not typically helped by antidepressants and frequently is very chronic. It can be experienced along with Unipolar Depression, in which case the person is said to have a “double depression”.

| Mood Disorders | Depression |