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A new research shows that if you are depressed during winter, it doesn’t mean that you suffer from SAD.
A new research proved that the seasonal depression is just a myth. The seasonal depression which is mostly known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is the name for the depression linked to the reduced light during the cold season.
SAD is recognized by the community of mental health for more than 30 years now, but the study suggests that the disorder has never had information to support it. According to the lead author of the study, Steven LoBello, depression is a mood that will come and go. LoBello, who is a psychology professor at the Auburn University said that just because some people get depressed during spring or winter, it doesn’t mean that the state was caused by a seasonal change.
In order to prove that SAD was not accurate, LoBello and his team of researchers collected data from more than 34,000 American adults. The survey was done by the telephone and the people were asked about depression, time of the year when it happens, their home’s latitude and other questions on depression. In order for the results of the study to be as accurate as possible, the team of researchers used the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System published in 2006. After the researchers analyzed the data they collected, they saw that the depression was not related to the seasonal changes. LoBello stated that if people suffer from depression because of the season changes, it happens extremely rare.
Doctor Matthew Lorber from the Lenox Hill Hospital came and said that it is true, that the seasonal disorder is not a legitimate diagnosis. Lorber also claimed that some of the big drug companies pushed forward the idea that SAD is an accurate diagnosis. Lorber, who did not take part in the study said that by creating a new disorder, they had the chance to direct their medications to a new market. LoBello said that it is very important for the people to know that SAD is not an accurate diagnosis for depression. He also said that putting false diagnosis on people, they will not be treated accordingly and their symptoms will continue to persist.
The seasonal affective disorder was added in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1987. Other researchers have doubted this disorder. Kelly Rohan from the University of Vermont gathered a team and conducted a study to see if the seasonal depression is real, but discovered that the symptoms of depression appear no matter the season.
The findings that seasonal depression is just a myth were published on January 20, in the Clinical Psychological Science.
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