This document defines and describes cabin fever, including its symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatments. Cabin fever is defined as a state of anxiety, restlessness, and boredom arising from prolonged confinement in a remote or isolated place. It affects passengers on long ship voyages, people in geographically snowed-in areas, prisoners in solitary confinement, and those living far from the equator. Common symptoms include restlessness, irritability, excessive sleeping, carbohydrate cravings, and thoughts of suicide or violence. Risk factors include being female, family history of depression or bipolar disorder, and living far north. Recommended treatments involve exercise, light therapy, and maintaining a healthy diet.

5. • “A state characterized by
anxiety, restlessness, and
boredom, arising from a
prolonged stay in a remote or
confined place.”
1

6.  Passengers traveling on long ship voyages
 Geographical regions with heavy snow fall
 Prisoners in solitary confinement
 Regions distant from the equator

8.  Restlessness
 Irritability
 Excessive sleeping
 Overeating
 Carbohydrate cravings
 Distrust of others
 Thoughts of suicide
 Acts of violence
2

11. 3

12. 3

13. • Hypothyroidism
• Hypoglycemia
• Infectious Mononucleosis
• Other viral infections
4

14. • Being female (three out of four)
• Living far from equator
• Family history
• Previous clinical depression or bipolar disorder
5

15. • Farther north, the symptoms are more severe
• Depression worsens when overcast
• Depression worsens when indoor lighting is
decreased
6

16. 11

17. 12

18. 13

19. • Exercise enhances action of endorphins
• Endorphins improve immunity
• Endorphins reduce perception of pain
• Endorphins improve mood
• Exercise stimulates norepinephrine
9

21.  Diet
- Whole grains
- Dairy products rich in vitamin D
- Fruits and Vegetables rich in antioxidants
- Bananas and potatoes which contain
tryptophan
 Exercise
 Light Therapy
- Blue spectrum lights
- Dawn simulators
- Florescent bulbs
- Tanning beds, but not recommended due to
damaging UV rays
8

25. 1. Dictionary.comhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cabin+fever.
2. Mayo Clinic Staff. “”Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).””Mayo
Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 Sept.
2011. Web. 10 April. 2012.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-
disorder/DS00195.
3. Alaska Justice Center. “Homicide in Alaska” Rep. no. Vol. 14, No 1.
Alaska Justice Center, Spring 1997. Web. 10 April. 2012.
http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/forum/14/1spring1/1997.
4.“Seasonal Affective Disorder”. NAMI: National Alliance on Mental
Illness. Ed. Michael Terman, Ph.D. NAMI: National Alliance on Mental
Illness, Feb. 2004. Web. 10 April. 2012.
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline/Seasonal-
Affective-Disorder-(SAD).htm.

26. 5. Mental Health America Staff. “”Seasonal Affective Disorder
(SAD).””Mental Health America: Mental Health America, 2012. Web.
10 April. 2012.http://www.nmha.org/go/sad.
6. NAMI
7. Plesman, BA (Psych), Post Grad, Dip, Clin, Nutr, Jurriann. “The
Serotonin Connection”. Hypoglycemic Association of Australia, 18
Dec. 2011. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/2011/the-
serotonin-connection/20v.
8. Lingohr-Smith, Melissa. “Supplements to Increase Serotonin”.
Livestrong.com. 8 Oct. 2010. Web. 15 Mar. 2012.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/274085-supp.
9. Miller, M.D., Craig.‟‟‟‟Exercise and Depression‟‟‟‟. Harvard Mental
Health Letter (2011) :49. Rpt.in „‟Understanding Depression‟‟. By
Harvard Medical School. Print.
<htpp://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Exercise.>.

27. 10. Reynolds, Gretchen. „‟Prescribing Exercise to Treat
Depression‟‟. The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2011. Print.
http://11well.blogs.nytimes.com/PrescribingExercisetoTreatD
epression.
11. Medical Chart retrieved from
googleimages.com/retina/pinealgland.
http://www.humanillnesses.com. Web. 10 April. 2012.
12. Medical Chart retrieved from
googleimages.com/retina/pinealgland.
http://www.wikis.lib.ncsu.edu. Web. 10 April. 2012.
13. Medical Chart retrieved from
googlimages.com/retina/pinealgland.
http://www.visembryo.com. Web. 10 April. 2012.
14. „‟The Shining‟‟ Movie Clips retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/theshining. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.