There are many disorders that can be easily mistaken, due to the similarities they have (similar patterns or characteristics).
Such situation concerns also Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Diagnosing this disorder can be a problem if not all aspects are considered, and the diagnosis may be incomplete.
Here it must be stated that there is a recognized relationship between Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Bipolar disorder (BPD). What’s more, people suffering from BPD are more likely to develop SAD.
These two disorders show the same symptoms: depression at fall and hypomania in spring. But there is a difference in the summer symptoms, and this is related to the heat that a person experiences.
SAD is known to be observed as DSM-IV- this is a subtype of major depression episodes. Such episodes bring about several signs: a smaller appetite, less sleep, a diminishing appetite along with weight-loss.
In contrast to this type of episode, people were always thought to suffer ‘atypical depression’. This meant that there was more sleep and an greater appetite rather than reduced sleep and low or poor appetite. In an atypical depression a person was also believed to encounter low levels of energy no matter how much s/he consumed.
Some people suffering from atypical depression also showed seasonal patterns of depression. Moreover, some patients with winter depression also undergo moderate to serious mood swings in the summer period. If these symptoms are severe, an person might be diagnosed with BPD. Some individuals with both SAD and BPD, may show good reactions to photo-therapy.
The photo-box is also something that a person would know of, and this can be effective. It’s estimated that up to 55 per cent of people respond to it positively. Furthermore, using ‘dawn simulator’ is also recommended that one could use. This method also has its level of success, hence it is advised that people should try both of them. It is unknown who will respond to these methods and who will not, but everybody should have some success with at least one of them.
The ‘dawn simulator’ isn’t as expensive as other methods and it is very easy to use, but instructions must be followed carefully. This especially applies to using the ‘light box’ as an overexposure to light through this device can lead to manic depression.
As there is much research being conducted in this area, specialists expect that more and more ways of fighting this disorder will be discovered. But still more studies need to be carried out to make sure what condition a person has because then remedies can be easily applied.
The more options a person has the better the results he/she can expect. But as it was mentioned above, studies in this field still continue, and hopefully there will be more ways of proper diagnosing a problem and how it may be treated.
