Seasonal affective disorder, grief reaction, and adjustment disorder

Med Clin North Am. 2014 Sep;98(5):1065-77. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2014.06.006. Epub 2014 Jul 9.

Abstract

Seasonal affective disorder is a subtype of other affective disorders. The most studied treatment is light therapy, although second-generation antidepressants are also an option. Grief reactions are normal for patients experiencing loss, and primary care providers (PCPs) should be aware of both the expected course of grief and the more severe symptoms that indicate complex grief. Adjustment disorder is a time-limited abnormal response to a stressor. PCPs can manage patients with adjustment disorder by arranging counseling, screening for suicidality, assessing for substance abuse, and ruling out other psychiatric diagnoses. At present there are no reliable data to suggest medication management.

Keywords: Adjustment disorder; Complex grief; Diagnosis; Grief reaction; Seasonal affective disorder; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adjustment Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Adjustment Disorders / therapy*
  • Algorithms
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Grief*
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Phototherapy
  • Phytotherapy
  • Primary Health Care
  • Psychotherapy
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder / therapy*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D