Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder* is a form of depression also known as SAD, seasonal depression, or winter depression. In the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), this disorder is identified as a type of depression – Major Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Pattern.

People with SAD experience mood swings and symptoms similar to depression. Symptoms usually occur during the fall and winter months when sunlight is lacking and usually improve with the arrival of spring. The hardest months for people with SAD in the United States tend to be January and February. Although much less common, some people experience SAD in the summer.

SAD is more than just the "winter blues." Symptoms can be depressing and overwhelming and can interfere with daily functioning. However, it can be treated. About 5 percent of adults in the US have SAD and it usually lasts about 40 percent of the year. This is more common in women than men.

SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain triggered by shorter days and less sunshine in winter. As the seasons change, people experience shifts in their internal biological clock or circadian rhythm that can cause them to fall out of their daily schedule. SAD is more common in people who live further from the equator where there is less daylight in winter.

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