Seasonal-Pattern Depression Essay

Evaluating Technology Essay

Discussion Question 1
Based on the following titles of research studies, identify what you believe to be the methodology, design, and rationale of the studies.You also need to provide a rationale for your assertions.Seasonal-Pattern Depression Essay

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Exploring the rate of seasonal-pattern depression in an Inuit community

Democracy in America

The relationship between compassion fatigue and burnout among critical care nurses

Two drugs for Alzheimer’s show promise

Evaluating technology with student success

Factors that influence weight control among women

The meaning of living with brain injury and stroke 10 years after the injury

Exploring the beliefs of healing among Aborigines

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.Seasonal-Pattern Depression Essay
Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.

Seasonal Affective Disorders

It is rather common for a child’s behavior to change due to the weather or season. Scientists have been researching this change of behavior in children for some time. Research has found that this variation happens primarily in two of the seasons out of the year. Other discoveries include both the symptoms of this disorder and some treatment options to aid in controlling it. The scientists have termed this condition as “seasonal affective disorder”. This is a very common occurrence in Alaska, the only region of the United States of America with latitude of over sixty degrees north. Seasonal affective disorder or SAD, as it is referred to, is a pattern of major depressive episodes that occur and remit  Seasonal-Pattern Depression Essay
If these symptoms appear over a two-week period or longer during the winter months, a child may be suffering from SAD. Occasionally parents see this change in behavior and think that it might be their child going through puberty, and nothing more. Parents should pay close attention to this, because it may be more than just a hormonal imbalance in their children. During children’s puberty, their bodies are going through changes that may cause a shift in their sleep habits, appetite, behavior, and lifestyles. This is common, but if it is exceptionally more frequent during the winter, or only occurs in the winter, when symptoms are more apparent, an appointment with a family physician can assure that everything is in order with the child’s health. Scientists have found several reasons why children are affected with the winter depression. During the winter months, there is a decrease in the bright light, in which people have grown accustomed to in the summer and pre-winter months. When summer approaches, the days are longer, the sun rises earlier and the nights are shorter. As a result of this, kids are outside more during the day and are not lacking the bright light that the sun provides. Around September, the days start to grow shorter and the nights become longer  Seasonal-Pattern Depression Essay

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder* is a form of depression also known as SAD, seasonal depression or winter depression. People with SAD experience mood changes and symptoms similar to depression. The symptoms usually occur during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight and usually improve with the arrival of spring. The most difficult months for people with SAD in the U.S. tend to be January and February. While it is much less common, some people experience SAD in the summer.

SAD is more than just “winter blues.” The symptoms can be distressing and overwhelming and can interfere with daily functioning. However, it can be treated. About 5 percent of adults in the U.S. experience SAD and it typically lasts about 40 percent of the year. It is more common among women than men.Seasonal-Pattern Depression Essay

SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter. As seasons change, people experience a shift in their biological internal clock or circadian rhythm that can cause them to be out of step with their daily schedule. SAD is more common in people living far from the equator where there are fewer daylight hours in the winter.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
Common symptoms of SAD include fatigue, even with too much sleep, and weight gain associated with overeating and carbohydrate cravings. SAD symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include many symptoms similar to major depression, such as:

Feeling of sadness or depressed mood
Marked loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Changes in appetite; usually eating more, craving carbohydrates
Change in sleep; usually sleeping too much
Loss of energy or increased fatigue despite increased sleep hours  Seasonal-Pattern Depression Essay
Increase in restless activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech
Feeling worthless or guilty
Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide
SAD may begin at any age, but it typically starts when a person is between ages 18 and 30.

Treatment
SAD can be effectively treated in a number of ways, including light therapy, antidepressant medications, talk therapy or some combination of these. While symptoms will generally improve on their own with the change of season, symptoms can improve more quickly with treatment.

Light therapy involves sitting in front of a light therapy box that emits very bright light (and filters out harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays). It usually requires 20 minutes or more a day, typically first thing in the morning, during the winter. Most people see some improvements from light therapy within one or two weeks of beginning treatment. To maintain the benefits and prevent relapse, treatment is usually continued through the winter. Because of the anticipated return of symptoms in late fall, some people may begin light therapy in early fall to prevent symptoms.Seasonal-Pattern Depression Essay

Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavior therapy, can effectively treat SAD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the type of antidepressant most commonly used to treat SAD.

For some people, increased exposure to sunlight can help improve symptoms of SAD. For example, spending time outside or arranging your home or office so that you are exposed to a window during the day. (However, exposure to UV light from the sun can increase your risk of skin cancer. Talk with your doctor about risks and benefits.) Taking care of your general health and wellness can also help—regular exercise, healthy eating, getting enough sleep, and staying active and connected (such as volunteering, participating in group activities and getting together with friends and family) can help.

If you feel you have symptoms of SAD, seek the help of a trained medical professional. Just as with other forms of depression, it is important to make sure there is no other medical condition causing symptoms. SAD can be misdiagnosed as hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, infectious mononucleosis, and other viral infections, so proper evaluation is key. A mental health professional can diagnose the condition and discuss therapy options. With the right treatment, SAD can be a manageable condition.Seasonal-Pattern Depression Essay