Winter blues or depression? The expert explains the differences

The days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping. The colder half of the year is tough for many people. You read terms such as end-of-summer depression, winter blues or autumn blues. But what does that actually mean?

We have the expert Prof. Dr. med. Gregor Hasler asked what the phenomenon is about and how it differs from seasonal depression.

Is it true that we are in a worse mood in autumn and winter?
Gregor Hasler: Depression and depressive moods are known to increase in the fall and winter. You can see this anywhere in the world where there are seasons.

Why is that?
You don’t know exactly. It certainly has something to do with the light: in autumn and winter people are usually exposed to less daylight, which has a refreshing effect and sets our internal clock. Research shows that it is not the absolute amount of light that is crucial, but also the fact that the days are getting shorter again. And social life also has an influence; this usually decreases as the weather gets colder.

However, this has not yet been definitively clarified. And there are big differences: some people feel the seasons strongly, others not at all.

How Does Seasonal Affective Disorder Differ From the August Blues?
Seasonal depression requires severe, very obvious symptoms to be present during a certain time of year before a diagnosis can be made. Typical symptoms here are an increased need for sleep and an increase in appetite – this is reminiscent of hibernation, which is probably the evolutionary precursor of autumn/winter depression. With the August blues, the symptoms would be less severe and would not limit the affected person in his or her daily life.

For example, what would be a symptom of true, clinical depression?
For example, if you no longer enjoy things and activities that normally give you satisfaction for at least two weeks. So if for more than two weeks you find yourself no longer wanting to pursue your hobbies, meeting your friends, and struggling to get out of bed in the morning, you could be suffering from depression.

How can we distinguish between the two syndromes?
It is important to know that depression runs on a spectrum; the extent of the discomfort is therefore particularly relevant for a diagnosis. If someone says that they simply have a decreased desire for things that otherwise bring them joy, that is not a depressive symptom. The extent of the symptoms ultimately determines whether the patient is suffering from depression or merely a depressed mood.

So I understand correctly: August anxiety, end-of-summer depression and autumn blues are not clinical terms and therefore fall under depressive mood?
The problem here is that these terms are relatively broad. There are patients who used one of the terms mentioned to describe their depression. However, the terms do not come from psychiatry, but rather describe an emotional situation that affects many people and for which no therapy is usually required. So you could add it to a depressed mood.

What questions do you ask a patient to find out what type of depression she is suffering from?

The following questions are central:

What else matters?
What is also important is the impact that the symptoms have on the patient’s daily life: if he can no longer work properly or perform his tasks, this is obviously more drastic than if the patient is still able to cope despite being upset. man up.

How do you diagnose ‘depression’?
Before someone is diagnosed with depression, he or she must have five of the nine symptoms. These symptoms are defined by DSM-5, the classification system for psychiatric diagnoses. The impact on daily life determines the severity of the depression, i.e. whether it is mild, moderate or severe.

What about those who fall through the cracks of depression?
Of course, there are many people who have not been immediately diagnosed with depression and who still suffer from it. Such patients are then subsyndromally depressed; their symptoms are not sufficient for a diagnosis. But here too, caution is required, because people with depressive symptoms are at greater risk of becoming truly depressed. Therefore, therapists give advice on how to improve your mood and, depending on the risk, arrange another consultation in a few weeks.

To what extent does a doctor’s diagnosis depend on what the patient says?
The perception of one’s own mood is always different. There are quite sensitive people who notice even a slight dip in their mood, worry about it and go to a therapist. In psychiatry you also feel responsible for patients who do not belong on the roster; After all, you want to help everyone. However, not being in a good mood every day and wanting to do everything you need to do is normal and part of life.

Who suffers from depression?
About four to five percent of the population suffers from depression, of which only about one percent suffers from seasonal affective disorder, i.e. depression that only occurs at certain times of the year, usually in autumn or winter. It is estimated that about 50 percent of people suffer from depressive mood around the cold season. However, concrete figures for this do not exist.

How can you prevent a depressed mood?
You should not go along with the depressive mood, but try to counteract it. As the weather gets colder, you go outside less and may meet your friends less often. Because daylight in particular has a major influence on the complaints, you should go outside enough, for example for half an hour’s walk.

Even if you don’t really feel like going to your weekly tennis practice or coffee with friends, you should still force yourself to go to improve your mood. Sufficient, restful sleep is also important. Avoid alcohol, coffee and large meals in the evening.

When should those affected by the August blues seek professional help?
If life is limited and you can no longer perform your tasks in your free time or at work, you should seek professional help. However, if the bad mood bothers and bothers someone, you can of course contact a therapist sooner at any time – this decision is at the discretion of those affected.