1. Seasonal Affective Disorder

2. What is SAD? Winter Depression—people struggle with depression in the middle of winter Only lifts with the coming of spring Sleep and eat excessively

3. SAD Hormone melatonin may play a role Less light=increased levels of melatonin being released by the brain’s pineal gland Raised melatonin levels = SAD in some people

4. Treatments Light Therapy— spend an average of 1 to 2 hours under a bright light. Lightbulb=500 lux Treatment = 2500 lux Summer day = 100,000 lux

5. Treatments Anti-depressants Trycyclics don’t often work—exacerbate the sleepiness and lethargy Non-sedative SSRI’s combined with light therapy are proven to work (Prozac) Therapy Psychotherapy, counseling, or any complementary therapy Accept illness and the limitations that surround it

6. Dimensions of Mental Functioning

7. Why classify? Hard to classify people on the basis of mental disorders Solve the problem by using 5 major dimensions to classify AXIS I Classify current symptoms into defined categories

8. AXIS AXIS II Developmental disorders and long standing personality disorders or maladaptive traits Language disorders, reading or writing difficulties, mental retardation, autism, speech problems

9. AXIS AXIS III Physical disorders or general medical conditions that are relevant to understanding or caring for the person AXIS IV Measurement of the current stress level at which the person is functioning

10. AXIS AXIS V Highest level of adaptive functioning present Adaptive functioning Social relations: quality of a person’s relationship with family and friends Occupational functioning: functioning as a worker, student, or homemaker and the quality of work accomplished Use of leisure time: recreational activities or hobbies and the degree of involvement and pleasure a person has in them

11. AXIS Helpful to researchers trying to discover connections among psychological disorders and other factors Downfall of DSM-IV: labels can have a negative affect