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SAD Vs. Depression

Most people experience symptoms of depression and many experience a major bout of depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a distinct form of depression that presents symptoms only during certain parts of the year.

  1. Depression

    • Depression is a form of mental illness that can affect the emotional state, mood, activity level and even thought processes. If untreated, severe depression can lead to mental instability and dire circumstances.

    Seasonal Affective Disorder

    • Seasonal Affective Disorder is a specific form of depression which is generally symptom free for most of the year. Many SAD patients experience extreme depression during the winter months, though some may show symptoms during the summer or other seasons.

    Classification of SAD

    • Seasonal Affective Disorder is classified in the DSM-IV psychological handbook of mental disorders as a subset of major depressive disorder. If manic episodes occur in the summer while depressive episodes occur in the fall or winter, it may be that the primary diagnosis is of bipolar disorder instead of SAD.

    Symptoms Comparison

    • Symptoms of depression include changes in sleep and energy levels, changes in appetite, mood swings, emotional turmoil, lethargy, and in some cases suicidal thoughts or irrational behavior. SAD often presents many of the same symptoms, but only during a brief portion of the year.

    SAD and Light Exposure

    • Studies by psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal and others suggest that the lower amount of light in the fall and winter months are a possible causative agent of Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is clearly not the only cause, however, as some sufferers of SAD experience symptoms during the summer months.

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