What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder

By: EjazUlHaqBhat

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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression characterised by a recurrent seasonal pattern. Symptoms can last about 4 to 5 months of the year

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The signs and symptoms of SAD include those associated with depression as well as disorder-specific symptoms that differ for winter-pattern versus summer-pattern SAD

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In most cases, SAD symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer

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These symptoms are known as winter-pattern SAD or winter depression

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Other people experience depressive symptoms during the spring and summer months, known as summer-pattern SAD or summer depression

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Symptoms can include persistent sad, anxious, feelings of hopelessness or pessimism, irritability, frustration, loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

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According to US National Institute of Mental Health, SAD occurs much more often in women than in men

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Winter-pattern SAD also occurs more often than summer-pattern SAD, it says

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