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Home » Areas of Practice » Labor Laws » Job Hazards » Depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also referred to as seasonal depression, is a form of depression dependent on the time of year. It typically starts in the fall or winter and disappears during the spring or by the beginning of summer. A unique type of SAD called summer depression starts in late spring or early summer and concludes by fall.

Causes

The precise cause of SAD is unknown, but it is highly influenced by location in terms of latitude and the degree of sunlight in that region. One school of thought believes that when a person is exposed to less sunlight, the biological clock that controls mood, sleep, and hormones retarded in the wintertime. Contact with light may reset the biological clock to its normal state.

The other point of view is that neurotransmitters, or the chemicals that exchange information among the nerves of the brain, may be out of sync in people with SAD. Some experts think that being out in the sun will fix this imbalance.

Symptoms

People affected by SAD exhibit a variety of common signs of depression such as unhappiness, apprehension, irritability, lack of interest in enjoyable activities, avoidance of social events, and lack of focus. Symptoms typically include exhaustion, weakness, increased time spent sleeping, increased appetite (e.g., greater consumption of carbohydrates), and weight gain.

Symptoms of winter SAD include:

  • Tiredness.
  • Craving for more sleep.
  • Less energy.
  • Weight gain.
  • Greater food intake.
  • Inability to concentrate.
  • Increased introversion.

Symptoms of summer SAD include:

  • Weight loss.
  • Insomnia.
  • Loss of appetite.