Q J Med 2003; 96: 309-313
© 2003 Association of Physicians
Aetiology and pathogenesis of mood disorders
L. Sher
From the Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, USA
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Introduction
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Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) was originally described as
a syndrome in which depression developed during autumn or winter
and remitted the following spring or summer.
1,2 Since then two
subtypes of SAD have been defined in the scientific literature:
winter SAD and summer SAD, the former being by far the more
frequent.
2,3 Most winter SAD patients have ‘atypical’
depressive symptoms such as increased sleep duration, increased
appetite and weight, and carbohydrate craving. Patients with
winter SAD may experience a reversal of their winter symptoms
in summer: mild hypomania, elevated mood, increased libido,
social activity and energy, and decreased sleep requirements,
appetite and weight. Seasonality, the tendency to experience
seasonal changes in mood and behaviour, can be viewed as a dimension,
ranging from those who show no seasonal changes to those who
show more extreme changes with the seasons. Seasonal changes
of mood and behaviour are common throughout the population.
4–6 A survey
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Circadian rhythms, SAD, and non-seasonal mood disorders
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Developmental alcohol exposure and circadian rhythms
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Conclusion
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