The recurrent serious depressive disease known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, typically starts in the fall and lasts through the winter. It is (SAD) is characterised by recurrent wintertime depressions that form and then go away in the spring or summer. In addition to having a gloomy mood, patients often have a greater appetite and sleep for longer periods of time in the winter. In temperate climes, SAD is a moderately common disorder that affects 1-3% of individuals. Women are more likely than males to experience it. The main signs are a depressed mood and decreased energy. Uncertainty surrounds the pathogenic mechanisms underlying SAD. A number of neurotransmitters have been linked to this, and numerous studies have shown that the serotonin system, in particular, is dysfunctional. Light therapy is a good way to cure SAD. In traditional light therapy, the SAD patient sits in front of a light box for 30 to 120 minutes each day during the winter, exposing themselves to 2000–10,000 lux. SAD is currently being treated with several types of light therapy, medication, and other therapies.
Seasonal affective disorder, Winter depression, Pathophysiology, Serotonin, Treatment