For some students, the winter blues can signal a larger problem than just longing for warmer weather. Seasonal Affective Disorder, depression sparked by fewer daylight hours, can interfere with a student's ability to function academically and socially.
According to Robert McGrath, director of consultation services for University Health Services, SAD is largely under-diagnosed.
\I'm sure a lot of students wouldn't necessarily think, 'Oh, I have this,'"" he said. ""A lot of people don't know about it, but I'd say we have in the range of 50 [cases per year].""
Symptoms usually start occurring in November and December, but people more sensitive to the changes in light can feel differences in mood earlier in the fall. Exactly what causes the body to act this way is still unknown, but women and children are more susceptible to the disorder.
UW-Madison Associate Professor of psychology Nancy Barklage said the symptoms of SAD are similar to those of depression.
""A person will typically feel lower with their mood and they'll eat more, sleep more and have a craving for carbohydrates like sweets and pasta,"" Braklage said. ""The energy is lower and that can be pretty profound with feeling sluggish and sleepy ... They may not feel as social as they normally would be and won't initiate calls.""
Although Barklage said some doctors prescribe antidepressants to patients with SAD, the most common treatment is a bright light therapy.
Jack Nitschke, UW-Madison assistant professor of psychiatry and psychology, said the treatment can be integrated easily into a person's lifestyle.
""The way it is treated is often by putting someone under a lamp of 10,000 lux for 20 minutes,"" he said. ""You just get up in the morning and as you reach for the paper you turn this light on. That often improves a person's mood.""
The light, which does not emit UV rays, needs to be ""mediated through the retina,"" according to Barklage, so tanning booths do not produce the same effect.
UHS has some of the lamps on hand to let students with SAD try out the light therapy before buying one.
""We offer three or four lights that we bought that we lend out for a week or so,"" McGrath said.
""Then it's a test to see whether they're going to respond, because if they do then it's worth it. The lights can be a shade expensive, between $100 and $200. ... It's just an assessment, but if it's what is going on, then it's definitely worth the money.\
