This document discusses seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression related to changes in seasons. SAD typically begins in the fall or winter and causes low energy, mood changes, and disrupted sleep and appetite. Symptoms are believed to be caused by reduced sunlight impacting brain chemicals like serotonin and melatonin. Risk factors include family history of depression, living far from the equator with less sun exposure, and having other forms of depression. Treatment options include light therapy, exercise, mindfulness techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication if needed.

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s What is Social Psychology?
PEACE
CONFLICT
VIOLENCE
FAMILY TIES
Social behavior
Social realities

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s What is Social Psychology?
 The scientific

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s Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a
type of depression that's related to changes in
seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the
same times every year. If you're like most
people with SAD, your symptoms start in the
fall and continue into the winter months,
sapping your energy and making you feel
moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in
the spring or early summer.
- is a type of winter depression that
affects an estimated half a million people
every year. It is believed to be caused by an
imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

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Symptom
sSigns and symptoms of SAD may include:
•Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every
day
•Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
•Having low energy
•Having problems with sleeping
•Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight
•Feeling sluggish or agitated
•Having difficulty concentrating
•Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
•Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide

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Symptom
sFall and winter SAD
Symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD,
sometimes called
•winter depression, may include:
•Oversleeping
•Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods
high in carbohydrates
•Weight gain
•Tiredness or low energy

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Symptom
sSpring and summer SAD
Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal
affective disorder, sometimes called summer
depression, may include:
•Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
•Poor appetite
•Weight loss
•Agitation or anxiety

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Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level
of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD.
This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal
clock and lead to feelings of depression.
Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical
(neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in
SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that
may trigger depression.
Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the
balance of the body's level of melatonin, which plays a role
Causes
Causes

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 Family history. People with SAD may be more likely to have
blood relatives with SAD or another form of depression.
 Having major depression or bipolar disorder. Symptoms of
depression may worsen seasonally if you have one of these
conditions.
 Living far from the equator. SAD appears to be more
common among people who live far north or south of the
equator. This may be due to decreased sunlight during the
winter and longer days during the summer months
Risk factors

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1
Let the
Light In
2
Exercise
Outside
3
Use
Mind/Body
Therapies
5
Get Help
4
Shift your
Thinking
Treatment of SAD

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References
1. Avery D. Seasonal affective disorder: Epidemiology, clinical features,
assessment, and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.
Accessed July 25, 2017.
2. Seasonal affective disorder. National Institute of Mental Health.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/seasonal-affective-
disorder/index.shtml. Accessed July 25, 2017.
3. Melrose S. Seasonal affective disorder: An overview of assessment and
treatment approaches. Depression Research and Treatment.
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/drt/2015/178564/. Accessed July
25, 2017.
4. Asher GN, et al. Comparative benefits and harms of complementary and
alternative medicine therapies for initial treatment of major depressive
disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Alternative