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Recognizing Seasonal Affective Disorder  (Article 5)
Each year as the weather turns cold and the skies turn gray, so does the mood of many people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression that is brought on by seasonal conditions, most commonly during the winter months.
   
SAD can affect anyone—adult or adolescent, man or woman—but like other forms of depression, it occurs
more often in women than in men.
 

Symptoms of SAD include:
  • Depressive symptoms that coincide with a seasonal change (usually the beginning of fall or winter)
  • Full remissions that also occur at a characteristic time of year (e.g., depression disappears in the spring)
  • Loss of interest in work or everyday activities
  • Withdrawal from social activities
  • Cravings for carbohydrates
  • Weight gain resulting from heartier appetite
  • Decreased energy level
  • The need for more sleep, particularly during the day

Some experts believe that a variety of factors, including hormone levels, body temperatures and light (or the
lack of it), contribute to the disorder. Others attribute SAD solely to the shorter days and decreased daylight in
fall and winter, which can cause a drop in serotonin levels, resulting in mood and behavioral changes. 
 

For most people with SAD, symptoms become less severe and eventually disappear with the arrival of spring.
In severe cases, however, treatment may be recommended.
     
If you have a TRICARE beneficiary who exhibits symptoms of SAD, or any other type of depression, and you believe the symptoms would be alleviated by seeing a behavioral health provider, you are encouraged to contact ValueOptions at 1-800-700-8646 to request a referral.
 

This application also allows you to check the accuracy of your listing in Humana Military’s database. While registering your NPIs, if you see office locations that are no longer active, you can flag them in the system and we will update our records accordingly.
 
For more information on depression, visit the Web site of the National Institute of Mental Health at www.nimh.nih.gov.
 

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Contacts (Article 6)
Humana Military
1-800-444-5445 
www.humana-military.com  		Pharmacy Customer Service
1-866-DoD-TRRx (retail)
1-866-DoD-TMOP (mail order)
www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE

ValueOptions (behavioral health)
1-800-700-8646
National TRICARE Web Sites
www.tricare.mil

Update DEERS
1-800-538-9552
http://www.tricare.mil/deers/default.cfm

PGBA (claims)
1-800-403-3950
 

  
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Created: December 17, 2008