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Seasonal Affective Disorder in Children
Monday, January 09, 2012
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Question: What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Answer:  Seasonal Affective Disorder is a subset category of Major Depressive Disorder. SAD is a course specifier, so the clinical diagnosis of this affective disorder is: "Major Depressive Disorder: Seasonal Onset."  

Question: Can children experience SAD?

Answer: Yes. It's important to remember that children can experience depression. And as such, they can experience a seasonal onset of the mood disorder just like adults. For children and teens, though, SAD doesn't usually follow the depressive symptoms of depression, per se. Most children experience sadness, anxiety and irritability, and are often not well-versed in identifying the reasons why. Sleepiness, junk food cravings, headaches and tummy complaints can also be joined by poor academic performance, memory impairment, poor organizational skills, temper tantrums and crying spells.

Statistics on Seasonal Affective Disorder
  
  • SAD affects millions worldwide, primarily those living in higher latitudes from the equator.
     
  • SAD affects women and children more than men
     
  • Research reports approximately 3 percent of children experience SAD. The rate of SAD was found to be higher in girls than boys.
     
  • Children tend to experience fatigue and irritability, but not necessarily depression when experiencing a seasonal onset of depression. 

 

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For more tips or to schedule an interview with Deborah Serani contact Sam Caggiula, Publicity Manager at Rowman & Littlefield, Phone: +1-301-459-3366 Email:  scaggiula@rowman.com  

About the author: Dr. Deborah Serani is the author of "Living with Depression," by Rowman and Littleflield. Serani is a go-to expert on the subject of depression whose interviews can be found in ABC News, Newsday, Psychology Today, The Chicago Sun Times, Glamour Magazine, The Associated Press, and affiliate radio station programs at CBS and NPR, just to name a few. Serani has also served as a technical advisor for the NBC television show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.  

 

 

 

 
Deborah Serani, Psy.D.
Author of "Living with Depression."
info@deborahserani.com
New York, NY
1.631.366.4674
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