Am J Psychiatry 1986; 143:356-358
Copyright © 1986 by American Psychiatric Association
Seasonal affective disorder in children and adolescents
NE Rosenthal, CJ Carpenter, SP James, BL Parry, SL Rogers and TA Wehr
The authors studied seven children with symptoms of seasonal affective
disorder. During the winter months the children regularly experienced
irritability, fatigue, school difficulties, sadness, and sleep changes as
well as other symptoms of seasonal affective disorder found in adults. An
open trial of bright environmental light reversed many of these symptoms
and improved mood and psychosocial functioning in the winter months. School
counselors and therapists should consider seasonal affective disorder in
the differential diagnosis of children with school difficulties that are
most prominent in the fall-winter semester.
