OPINIONS
Seasonal depression: Those difficult months during the year
 
Depressive mental disorder has various aspects, as we usually say, because it can be manifested in different ways (in connection of manifestation of various symptoms and with prevalence of individual symptoms) and with heterogeneous principles. According to manifestation frequency of individual symptoms of depression and characteristic course of these symptoms, we can distinguish typical depressive disorders (simply depression) and atypical depressive disorders.
Seasonal depressive disorder is atypical depression, and it is manifested in higher appetite and food intake (distinctive appetite for carbo hydrates) and higher sleepiness (in typical depression the appetite is reduced beside reduced sleepiness). Person with seasonal depression is very agitated and impulsive These symptoms are more frequent during seasonal depression. Consequences of having seasonal depression are often self-damaging activities or in worst case even the suicide. Higher incidence depends from the period of inadequate light exposure (not reduced temperature!) and appears from October to April. Slovenia is positioned southern than the countries with highest depression incidence, therefore depression incidence appears from December to March.

Seasonal depression is in great deal biologically dependent and is best treated in that way. The most efficient is light therapy with high brightness in the spectrum which is lacking during the winter time. It is enough to sit beside the lamp every morning during reading newspaper and drinking coffee. This simple activity has similar effect as antidepressive drug. Psychotherapy is not suitable for this kind of depression. Antidepressive drugs would be suitable, but I would rather opt only for bright light therapy or exceptionally a combination of both. Decision about the therapy should be made by psychiatrist. It is important that antidepressive therapy in not prolonged in summer, as it is important for person who during the winter gets seasonal depression.

During the time of maximum brightness it is necessary to take a walk, although the person because of depression has high desire to stay  indoors, which patients usually do, the result of that is aggravation of the symptoms. During the week ends it is important to go to places without fog, where it is sunny, for example to the seaside. The effect is instant. Person who suffers from seasonal depression during the winter in Slovenia, will experience total liberation of those symptoms after a few days from arrival in Argentine or Australia. It would be sufficient if you would spend the money, planned for the summer holiday for Croatian coast, during the winter for the African seas, even though for few days less. The quality of life will benefit. The bright light effect during the winter is amazing, if you really suffer from seasonal depression. 

Ph.D. M.D. Andrej Marušič, B. Sc. of psychology, psychiatrist, member of expert advisory committee of DAM (association for helping people with depression and anxiety disorder)