Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal affective disorder (or SAD), is a type of depression that occurs during the same season every year. It is a mood disorder affecting people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year, but experience symptoms of depression in a particular season, usually winter (but may also be any of the others). This disorder occurs only during a given time of the year and you go back to being normal throughout the rest of the year.

Anyone can get SAD, but it's more common in women than men. It is also more likely to affect you if you live far from the equator, where winter daylight hours are very short. You are more likely to experience SAD if you are between the ages of fifteen and fifty five. The risk of getting SAD is low amongst older people. You are also at a higher risk of having SAD if you have a close relative who suffers from the same disease. It is sometimes also referred to as winter depression, summertime sadness, or seasonal depression.

The exact cause of seasonal affective disorder is not known but experts believe that it may be caused by a lack of sunlight which upsets your body’s natural pattern of sleeping and waking up. This causes problems with the production of serotonin, a chemical found in your body which sends signals between nerves and affects your mood.

When to seek expert advise

If you are experiencing feelings of helplessness, loneliness, irritability or tiredness during a particular time of the year, do not ignore these symptoms as “seasonal blues” and make it a point to visit your doctor. You can obtain additional information and medical advice from the doctors working with the Mind and Brain Service Line​ at The Aga Khan University Hospital.​

Imagery