Effective Treatments are available for Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder | Our News

Effective Treatments are available for Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder

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The nights are drawing in ... for many people this means the onset of low mood and depression. A significant number of people may be suffering from SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is said to affect about 2 million people in the UK. Symptoms of SAD include low mood, lethargy, low energy levels, sleep disturbance, loss of libido, increased anxiety, depression, and carbohydrate and sugar cravings. SAD sufferers dread the winter.

Many other people suffer from a mild version of SAD, called subsyndromal SAD or, more commonly, 'winter blues'. With this milder form of the condition, while there may be symptoms such as low mood, and sleep and eating problems, depressive and anxiety symptoms tend to be milder.

People who experience severe SAD need to visit their GP. However there are a range of treatment options available for SAD sufferers and indeed for people who suffer from other forms of depression, including mild depression.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that SAD should be treated in the same way as other types of depression. This includes using talking treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or medication such as antidepressants. Light therapy is also a popular treatment for SAD, although NICE says it's not clear whether it is effective.

Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service provides a range of treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder and other forms of depression. The local IAPT service provides Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as well as other treatments, for people suffering from mild and severer forms of depression including SAD. The service receives about 20,000 referrals a year and tries to offer an initial first appointment within seven days. If people are aged 16 and over and have a GP based on the Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull areas, people can refer themselves to the IAPT service by ringing 024 7667 1090 Alternatively, people can talk to their GP or other health professional for assistance in accessing the IAPT service

Steph Fryer, Clinical Lead, for the local IAPT service said ‘If people are suffering from any form of depression including seasonally induced depression, they do not need to suffer alone. Effective treatments are readily available - people can refer themselves by simply calling our service and arranging an initial appointment with our team of approachable and experienced clinicians’. 

Katie Mclean, Team Manager, Coventry IAPT service said ‘We can and do provide treatments for people with SAD and other forms of depression. However if people are suffering from SAD or ‘winter blues’ there are a number of simple things that people can try that may help improve their symptoms. These include getting as much natural sunlight as possible; making your work and home environments as light and airy as possible; taking plenty of regular exercise, particularly outdoors and in daylight and eating a healthy, balanced diet. I recommend that people try out these things, but also give us a call – we can help with self help material and provide advice and support as well as more formal treatments.’ 

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