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What is SAD?
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that surfaces
during the winter months (Nov through April) and is believed to be
related to decreased exposure to sun light, referred to as
seasonal-variance. Although the mechanism is not understood, it is
believed that decreased sunlight allows an overproduction of melatonin.
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain.
Excess melatonin is believed to cause depression
SAD has been referred to as depression’s little brother. The primary
difference is that SAD symptoms are cyclical with the winter months
whereas depression has no seasonal variance. Generally speaking, SAD’s
symptoms are not as severe as those seen with generalized depression. Like depression, SAD is hallmarked by a sense of
sadness and little interest in activities.A form of SAD with milder
symptoms has also been recognized as subsyndromal or s-SAD. The symptoms
and timing of s-SAD are identical to SAD but simply in a lesser degree.
A summer form of SAD, simply called summer SAD, has also been recently
identified with the same symptoms but occurring from May to October.
This form of SAD has been seen much less frequently.
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