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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Learning Center
Causes could include:
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No known cause
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The disorder may begin in adolescence or early adulthood. Like other forms of depression, it occurs more frequently in women than in men. Most people with the "winter blahs" or "cabin fever" do not have SAD.
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Lack of sunlight, normally associated with winter, is considered to be the primary cause of SAD. Although winter temperature may also have an impact, especially in colder areas, the lack of light is most important. This is supported by the effecti...
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The body produces more melatonin at night than during the day, and scientists believe it helps people feel sleepy at nighttime. There is also more melatonin in the body during winter, when the days are shorter. Some researchers believe that excess...
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Doctors usually diagnose seasonal affective disorder based on the patient's description of symptoms, including the time of year they occur. There is also a diagnostic questionnaire called the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire, or SPAQ, use...
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