Seasonal Affective Disorder

Course overview

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs during times of the year when hours of sunlight are limited. To have a seasonal designation, people with SAD must have symptoms of major depressive disorder in addition to seasonal specifiers. SAD is distinguished by onset in the fall and remission in the summer. It is important to identify the qualifiers of SAD to help people find appropriate treatment. It is also important because SAD has been found to be simultaneously present with at least one other behavioral health disorder which points to the need for its identification and recognition in healthcare (Fonte & Coutinho, 2021).