Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – Symptoms & causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons seasonal affective disorder (SAD) begins and ends at about the same times every year. […] The specific cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown. Some factors that may come into play include: […] The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression. […] A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression. […] The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

• #2 Seasonal Affective Disorder – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568745/

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) poses a significant challenge to mental health, affecting mood and overall well-being, especially during months with reduced daylight hours. […] Notably, SAD’s prevalence increases with distance from the equator, suggesting a link to environmental light exposure. […] The etiology of SAD involves complex factors like circadian rhythm disruptions, changes in melatonin and serotonin levels, and photoperiod sensitivity. […] SAD is believed to have a multifaceted etiology, with various hypotheses suggesting that sunlight deficiency and hormonal changes play significant roles. […] The condition is linked to neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, and glutamate, although the exact pathophysiology is unclear. […] Disruptions in the body’s circadian rhythm due to reduced sunlight exposure during fall and winter are thought to be involved in the onset of winter-onset SAD. […] Additionally, alterations in melatonin levels due to seasonal changes can impact sleep patterns and mood regulation.

• #3 Seasonal Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9293-seasonal-depression

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression triggered by a change in seasons, usually when fall starts. This seasonal depression gets worse in the late fall or early winter before ending in the sunnier days of spring. […] Researchers don’t know exactly what causes seasonal depression. Lack of sunlight may trigger the condition if you’re prone to getting it. The theories suggest: […] When there’s less sunlight, your biological clock shifts. This internal clock regulates your mood, sleep and hormones. When it shifts, you’re out of step with the daily schedule you’ve been used to and can’t adjust to changes in daylight length. […] Brain chemicals called neurotransmitters send communications between nerves. These chemicals include serotonin, which contributes to feelings of happiness. If you’re at risk of SAD, you may already have less serotonin activity. Since sunlight helps regulate serotonin, a lack of sunlight in the winter can make the situation worse. Serotonin levels can fall further, leading to depression.

• #3 Psychiatry.org – Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

  https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/seasonal-affective-disorder

  Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression also known as SAD, seasonal depression or winter depression. […] SAD has been linked to changes in the brain prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter. […] The prevalence of SAD varies with geographical latitude, age and sex. The prevalence increases at higher latitudes with SAD being more common in people living far from the equator where there are fewer daylight hours in the winter. […] SAD may begin at any age, but it typically starts when a person is between ages 18 and 30.

• #4 Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Symptoms, causes, and treatment

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10306

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is now more commonly known as major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern. […] The NIMH suggest that this condition might occur when reduced exposure to sunlight triggers a chemical imbalance in the brain. However, more research is necessary to confirm the cause. […] The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggest that living farther from the equator can increase the risk of developing SAD. […] Experts are still unsure of the exact causes of SAD. However, studies have pointed to the following factors: […] The NIMH maintain that reduced exposure to sunlight during winters shorter days disrupts the balance of melatonin in the body. […] A 2018 study in rats, the results of which appear in the journal Genes Nutrition, found links between vitamin D and serotonin that could explain the onset of depression in some people. […] The body produces vitamin D after exposure to sunlight. Getting less sunlight during the winter months might explain the cycle of depressive symptoms that characterize SAD.

• #5 Seasonal Depression – Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

  https://www.webmd.com/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder

  Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a mood disorder that happens every year at about the same time. It usually starts in fall or winter and ends in spring or early summer. These mood changes may affect how you feel, think, and act. […] While we don’t know the exact causes of SAD, some scientists think that certain hormones made deep in your brain trigger attitude-related changes at certain times of the year. […] One theory is that less sunlight during fall and winter leads your brain to make less serotonin, a chemical linked to brain pathways that help control mood. When these nerve cell pathways don’t work the way they should, it can result in feelings of depression, along with fatigue and weight gain. […] Because SAD that starts in winter is related to the reduced levels of daylight, it’s less often found in countries where there’s plenty of sunshine year-round.

• #6 Seasonal Affective Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder

  Researchers are still determining what causes SAD. Most research to date has investigated potential causes of winter-pattern SAD because it is more common and easier to study. […] Studies indicate that people with SAD, especially winter-pattern SAD, have reduced levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which helps regulate mood. Research also suggests that sunlight affects levels of molecules that help maintain normal serotonin levels. Shorter daylight hours may prevent these molecules from functioning properly, contributing to decreased serotonin levels in the winter. […] Vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate these problems in people with winter-pattern SAD because vitamin D is believed to promote serotonin activity. […] Other studies suggest that both forms of SAD relate to altered levels of melatonin, a hormone important for maintaining the normal sleep-wake cycle.

• #7 What doctors wish patients knew about seasonal affective disorder | American Medical Association

  https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-seasonal-affective-disorder

  When the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, millions of people find themselves grappling with the winter blues. This is known as seasonal affective disorder, which is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. […] Its characterized by recurrent episodes of depression that happen in a seasonal pattern, so generally when there is a reduced exposure to natural sunlight. […] So, its thought to be a depressive episode thats triggered due to the disruption in the bodys natural circadian rhythm and the changes in neurotransmitter levels. […] While we dont fully know, some of the theories behind seasonal affective disorder or major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns is its linked to the reduced sunlight exposure and circadian rhythm disruption during the winter months.

• #8 Seasonal Affective Disorder

  https://www.butler.org/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder

  Many people get the „winter blues,” which is really called Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD affects one to three percent of adults and can markedly decrease a person’s quality of life and functioning. […] Price explains that there are many theories behind the causes of SAD, but the most widely accepted one is that the amount of sunlight people are exposed to diminishes in fall/winter. „If you look at prevalence of major depression at different latitudes, research shows it’s pretty common in northern latitudes, like Maine, and much less common in southern latitudes, like Florida,” says Price. […] Sunlight affects an area of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, located in the hypothalamus, which is responsible for functions, such as sleep, heart rate and blood pressure, appetite, weight regulation, and sexual functions.

• #9 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-science-behind-the-January-blues-Understanding-seasonal-affective-disorder.aspx

  Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as 'January Blues’, is a seasonal mood disorder that occurs during the changing of seasons. It is predominantly observed in the transition from fall to winter and causes significant mental distress for those affected. Unlike other mood disorders, SAD is primarily caused by the cyclical transitions of the seasons throughout the year. Research suggests that changes in sunlight exposure are the primary cause of SAD. It is hypothesized that lower levels of sunlight in winter may disrupt an individual’s circadian rhythm, the innate 'biological clock’ governing a multitude of body functions, thereby initiating the pathological processes of SAD. […] Research on seasonal affective disorder (SAD) suggests that a lack of sunlight during fall and winter months can lead to depressive symptoms. This is due to the impact of diminished sunlight on circadian rhythms, as well as the regulation of neurotransmitters like serotonin and hormones like melatonin.

• #10 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) | Mental Health America

  https://mhanational.org/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/

  Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or the “winter blues,” is a subtype of depression or bipolar disorder that occurs and ends around the same time every year. Seasonal depression typically occurs when the seasons change and most symptoms begin in the fall and continue into the winter months. However, seasonal depression can occur in the summer or spring, although this is less common. […] The reduced level of sunlight in the fall and winter months may affect an individual’s serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood. Lower levels of serotonin have been shown to be linked to depression. Brain scans have shown that people who had seasonal depression in the winter had higher levels of a serotonin transporter protein that removed serotonin than in individuals who did not have seasonal depression.

• #11 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Symptoms and More

  https://www.healthline.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is another term for major depressive disorder (MDD) with seasonal pattern. Its a type of depression thats provoked by seasonal change. Usually, symptoms begin in the fall or winter. […] The exact cause of SAD is unknown. Contributing factors may vary from person to person. […] Light is thought to influence SAD. One theory is that decreased sunlight exposure in winter and increased exposure in the spring and summer affects the natural biological clock that regulates hormones, sleep, and moods. Individuals affected by SAD may have difficulty regulating their biological clock, known as the circadian rhythm. […] Abnormal levels of the hormones serotonin and melatonin in people with SAD may also disrupt their circadian rhythm. According to research from 2016, SAD appears to be more likely in people whose brains maintain high levels of serotonin transporters, leading to lower levels of serotonin. […] People with SAD may also produce overly high amounts of melatonin, a hormone that controls and promotes sleep.

• #12

  https://healthmatch.io/seasonal-affective-disorder/is-seasonal-depression-genetic

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, is a common form of major depressive disorder that varies in severity. […] Research has identified a variety of causes of seasonal depression: […] If you have SAD, you underproduce serotonin. This hormone is responsible for mood regulation. […] People with SAD experience higher SERT levels during winter, resulting in low serotonin levels. Researchers think the failure to regulate serotonin can contribute to seasonal affective disorder, particularly when sunlight levels are lower. […] Studies have identified that 15% of people with seasonal affective disorder have a relative with the same condition. About 25-67% of people with SAD have a relative with another form of psychological disorder. […] Seasonal affective disorder may have links to genetic mutations; however, scientists don’t believe there is a specific gene mutation that causes it.

• #13 Seasonal Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9293-seasonal-depression

  Your serotonin level also gets a boost from vitamin D. Since sunlight helps produce vitamin D, less sun in the winter can lead to a vitamin D deficiency. That change can affect your serotonin level and your mood. […] The lack of sunlight may stimulate an overproduction of melatonin in some people. You may feel sluggish and sleepy during the winter. […] People with SAD often have stress, anxiety and negative thoughts about the winter. Researchers aren’t sure if these negative thoughts are a cause or effect of seasonal depression.

• #14 Seasonal Affective Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder

  Both serotonin and melatonin help maintain the body’s daily rhythm tied to the seasonal night-day cycle. In people with SAD, changes in serotonin and melatonin disrupt normal daily rhythms. […] Negative thoughts and feelings about the winter or summer and its associated limitations and stresses are also common among people with SAD.

• #15 The Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – Psychiatry

  https://healthmatters.nyp.org/what-to-know-about-seasonal-affective-disorder/

  Its not fully understood but may have something to do with reduced amounts of sunlight affecting serotonin, the neurotransmitter that helps us regulate our moods, and melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleepy. Lower levels of serotonin may have a connection with an increased risk for depression. Melatonin naturally follows the rhythmic light pattern, kicking in toward the end of the day when it gets dark. And so, during winter with those longer durations of darkness, people with seasonal affective disorder may have increased melatonin, meaning theyre sleepier and more tired, which can also increase the risk of depression. […] Your circadian rhythm, or the bodys biological clock, may also get disrupted by less sunlight, which can also lead to symptoms of depression. […] We arent sure why, but women are more likely to suffer from seasonal affective disorder than men. And people with a history of depression or the seasonal pattern of even just feeling down are also more likely to experience the symptoms as well.

• #16 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) | Mental Health America

  https://mhanational.org/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/

  Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, has been linked to seasonal depression. This hormone, which can affect sleep patterns and mood, is produced at increased levels in the dark. Therefore, when the days are shorter and darker the production of this hormone increases. Melatonin can also affect an individual’s circadian rhythm, or “biological clock,” resulting in ‘internal clocks’ being out of sync with ‘external clocks,’ or the usual sleep/wake rhythms. This can result in some of the symptoms associated with seasonal depression.

• #17 Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD

  https://www.massgeneral.org/condition/seasonal-affective-disorder

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression. It happens during certain seasons of the year, most often fall or winter. […] It is thought that shorter days and less daylight may set off a chemical change in the brain leading to symptoms of depression. […] Less sunlight and shorter days are thought to be linked to a chemical change in the brain. They may be part of the cause of SAD. […] Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone, also has been linked to SAD. The body naturally makes more melatonin when its dark. So when the days are shorter and darker, more melatonin is made. […] There is no clear cause of SAD. But less sunlight and shorter days may be part of the cause. Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone, also may be linked to SAD.

• #18 Seasonal Affective Disorder | Psychology Today

  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder

  Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of recurrent major depressive disorder in which episodes of depression occur during the same season each year. […] SAD may be related to changes in the amount of daylight a person receives. […] The cause for SAD is unknown. There is some evidence that it is related to the body’s level of melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. […] Alternatively, people with SAD may have trouble regulating their levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that influences mood. […] Research has suggested that people with SAD also may produce less Vitamin D in response to sunlight; vitamin D is believed to play a role in serotonin activity. […] There are several factors known to increase an individual’s chance of developing SAD. For example, SAD is more frequent in people who live far north or south of the equator. […] Additionally, people with a family history of other types of depression are more likely to develop SAD than people who do not have such a family history.

• #19 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2500054-overview

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a syndrome typically used to describe a recurrent, seasonal pattern of depressive episodes. SAD may also describe other affective episodes (mania or hypomania) that occur in a seasonal pattern. […] The etiology of SAD is not completely understood. A combination of physiologic, psychologic, genetic and environmental factors likely play a role. […] Circadian phase delay, retinal subsensitivity to light, altered neurotransmitter release (e.g., serotonin, melatonin, dopamine), hypovitaminosis D and genetic variations in clock, monoamine and retinal photopigment genes have all been proposed mechanisms underlying the etiology of SAD. […] It has been proposed that low vitamin D may play a role in the development of SAD. Vitamin D may be involved with the functioning of the suprachiasmatic nucleus as well as the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine.

• #20 All about seasonal affective disorder – Mayo Clinic Health System

  https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/seasonal-affective-disorder-more

  While a person is not born with SAD, it’s believed to run in families. It’s more common in women, as are all depressive disorders. […] SAD has a seasonal pattern, with recurring episodes happening more predictably during certain seasons — most commonly during the winter months. SAD can have a predictable pattern to depression, which is helpful for the management of the disorder.

• #21 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

  https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad

  SAD can affect you at any time of year, although its more common in winter. However, some people have symptoms of SAD in summer and feel better in winter. […] While the exact causes of SAD are unclear, its often linked to the reduced amount of sunlight in winter. This can affect: […] your body clock. Your body uses sunlight to regulate your sleep, appetite and mood. Lower light levels in winter can disrupt your body clock, leading to depression and tiredness […] your production of melatonin, a sleep hormone. People with SAD may produce much higher levels in winter […] your production of serotonin, a hormone affecting your sleep, mood and appetite. Reduced sunlight can lead to lower levels of serotonin, making you feel depressed. […] Youre more likely to develop SAD if you have a relative with SAD or another form of depression. Like other types of depression, SAD is more common in women: they are three times more likely to be affected than men.

• #22 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2500054-overview

  The prevalence of SAD appears to be most linked to photoperiod and as such tends to be more prevalent with higher latitudes, though the evidence is not equivocal. […] Numerous studies have looked for genetic variation in those with SAD. Although data is inconclusive at this time, there have been some differences noted in the 5-HTTLPR gene and the 5-HT2A gene.

• #23 Seasonal affective disorder: MedlinePlus GeneticsLock

  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/seasonal-affective-disorder/

  Seasonal affective disorder is a mental health condition that is triggered by the changing of the seasons. […] The causes of seasonal affective disorder are complex. A shortage of sunlight contributes to the development of the disorder in the fall and winter months, and too much sunlight is associated with seasonal affective disorder in the spring and summer months. […] Affected individuals seem to have disrupted daily (circadian) rhythms, such as the sleep-wake cycle, which are normally regulated to match the night-day cycle. […] It is likely that affected individuals are genetically predisposed to being unable to adjust their circadian rhythms. […] Studies have identified variants in multiple genes that are associated with developing seasonal affective disorder. […] Most genes that have been implicated in seasonal affective disorder are active (expressed) in the brain, where they are involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms.

• #24 Seasonal affective disorder: MedlinePlus GeneticsLock

  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/seasonal-affective-disorder/

  Abnormal regulation of circadian rhythms likely contribute to an individual’s inability to match his or her circadian rhythms to changes in seasons, resulting in changes in sleep, mood, and behavior as daylight hours change. […] However, little is known about what causes certain individuals to be more sensitive to the changing of the seasons than others.

• #25 Seasonal Affective Disorder

  https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/seasonal-affective-disorder-1

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also referred to as winter blues, represents one of the most prevalent and complicated psychiatric disorders faced by patients today. The exact cause of SAD remains unclear, but several theories have been proposed to explain its development. One theory suggests that disruptions in an individuals internal clock, known as circadian rhythm, play a role. Longer winter nights may lead to excessive production of melatonin, a hormone that signals sleepiness, contributing to feelings of drowsiness and lethargy during the winter months. […] Additionally, individuals with SAD may have a problem with how sensitive their retinas are to light. Normally, retinas become more sensitive to light during the winter to adjust for shorter days, but in people with SAD, this response may be diminished, causing disruptions in his or her circadian rhythm.

• #26

  https://www.naturalmentalhealth.com/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder-causes

  SAD has been linked to biochemical imbalances in the brain, likely involving melatonin and serotonin prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight during the fall and winter months. […] Environmental stress is higher in fall and winter months which might make us susceptible to SAD. […] Whether delayed or advanced, a shift in the circadian rhythm is related to the timing of melatonin release. […] Individuals with SAD are less sensitive to environmental light cues and may be less sensitive to the amount of light that they receive year around. […] For most people, serotonin levels are generally lower in the winter and higher in the summer. […] Certain genetic profiles have higher risk of SAD such as genes for circadian rhythm, serotonin, dopamine, and retinal photopigment differences.

• #27

  https://healthmatch.io/seasonal-affective-disorder/is-seasonal-depression-genetic

  Identifying genes related to SAD vulnerability could help experts craft more optimized, individualized treatment programs. […] Research has correlated mutations in this gene with seasonal affective disorder. […] Variations in this gene are associated with a greater risk of developing SAD. […] Variations in this gene can contribute to SAD sensitivity. […] Some research has found a potential link between SAD and a serotonin receptor mutation. […] One study has identified a link between SAD and a mutation that makes the eye less sensitive to light. […] However, people with seasonal affective disorder do not have this seasonal rhythm of monoamine oxidase A. This irregularity could be causing too much serotonin to be broken down during winter, contributing to the development of seasonal affective disorder.

• #28

  https://www.naturalmentalhealth.com/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder-causes

  Acute or ongoing stressors and preexisting cognitive vulnerability to depression (rumination, dysfunctional attitudes, negative attributional style) interact to trigger symptoms of SAD. […] Behavioral disengagement may serve as a vulnerability for depression onset or maintenance. […] SAD can be related to medical problems such as hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, chronic illness, infectious mononucleosis, and other infections, so proper evaluation is key.

• #29 Seasonal Depression – Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

  https://www.webmd.com/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder

  It’s not clear what causes SAD that starts in spring or summer. Some believe it’s linked to higher levels of light that may disrupt sleep patterns. It also may be linked to increased social pressures, as more events are scheduled during warm weather. […] Treatments differ, depending on how serious your seasonal affective disorder symptoms are. The type of treatment you get also depends on whether you have another type of depression or bipolar disorder. […] Traditional antidepressants are often used to treat SAD. Bupropion XL is FDA-approved specifically to prevent major depressive episodes in people with SAD. But your doctor may suggest other medications. […] One of the most effective ways to treat SAD that starts in fall or winter is with light. Some researchers link seasonal depression to the natural hormone melatonin, which causes drowsiness. Light affects our brain’s biological clock, which regulates the circadian rhythm a physiological process that can lead to mood changes in winter when there’s less sunlight. Natural or „full-spectrum” light can have an antidepressant effect.

• #30 Seasonal Affective Disorder: SAD Symptoms, Causes, Self-Care

  https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs at the same time each year, usually in winter. […] While the exact causes of seasonal affective disorder are unclear, most theories attribute the disorder to the reduction of daylight hours in winter. The shorter days and reduced exposure to sunlight that occurs in winter are thought to affect the body by disrupting: […] Your body’s internal clock or sleep-wake cycle responds to changes between light and dark to regulate your sleep, mood, and appetite. […] The reduced sunlight of winter can lower your body’s production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood. […] The less common form of SAD, summer depression, begins in late spring or early summer and ends in fall. Instead of being attributed to shorter days and reduced sunlight, experts believe that summer SAD is caused by the opposite—longer days and increased heat and humidity. […] As with any form of depression, there can be many different causes and contributing factors for seasonal affective disorder.

• #31 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Symptoms, Causes, and More

  https://psychcentral.com/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder

  However, summer depression may be triggered by heat, humidity, and too much light exposure, which can lead to an overproduction of melatonin, or the sleepy hormone. Too much melatonin in the body can affect your sleep-wake cycle. […] When seasonal changes in daylight exposure disrupt the levels of serotonin and melatonin in the body, it can impact your mood.

• #32 The science of Sad: understanding the causes of ‘winter depression’ | Health & wellbeing | The Guardian

  https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/30/sad-winter-depression-seasonal-affective-disorder

  Increasing evidence from various imaging and rodent studies suggests that the serotonin system may be directly modulated by light. […] When there is less light in the wintertime, this network is not activated enough. […] In especially susceptible individuals, levels of serotonin in the brain are reduced to such an extent that it increases the likelihood of a depressive episode. […] Serotonin may also explain why women are so much more vulnerable to Sad than men. […] Some populations appear to be particularly resilient to Sad, mostly notable in Iceland. […] One possible reason for this could again be linked to serotonin. […] Its very important to use a Sad-specific ultraviolet filtered light otherwise it can be dangerous, says Levitan. […] Its probably effective in providing symptom relief in around 80% of patients, particularly those with the carbohydrate craving, oversleeping symptoms. […] For the most severe patients, though, it may have to be combined with antidepressant therapy.

• #33 Seasonal affective disorder, winter blues and self-care tips to get ahead of symptomsmenu iconsearch iconsubscribe iconsearch iconarrow up right icon

  https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/seasonal-affective-disorder-winter-blues-and-self-care-tips-to-get-ahead-of-symptoms/2023/11

  Cooler weather and less daylight during the winter months can cause many of us to feel less motivated and even disengaged in everyday life. Some of us may experience the winter blues, while others may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD). […] Seasonal affective disorder is considered a depressive disorder – a subtype of major depression with seasonal changes. This means that it starts in autumn and lasts through the winter months, improving in the spring. […] About 5% of Americans have seasonal affective disorder. Women are four times more likely to experience it. Additionally, people who live in northern states, like the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and New England, tend to experience seasonal affective disorder more. […] Seasonal affective disorder can begin at any age. It typically starts between ages 18 and 30.

• #34 Seasonal Affective Disorder – familydoctor.org

  https://familydoctor.org/condition/seasonal-affective-disorder/

  Melatonin levels – Melatonin is a brain chemical that regulates sleep. More darkness causes the body to produce more melatonin. More melatonin could make you feel more tired and lethargic. These are common symptoms of depression. […] Vitamin D levels – It is believed that vitamin D plays a role in serotonin levels. Much of the vitamin D we get is from the sun. Less sunlight could lead to a deficiency in vitamin D. This can cause depression symptoms. […] Some people have a higher risk of developing SAD. Factors that increase risk include: […] Being female. Four times as many women are diagnosed with SAD than men. […] Living far from the equator. In the United States, living farther north increases your risk. These areas get less sunlight in fall and winter. […] Family history. Having family members with SAD or other forms of depression increases your risk. […] Having depression or bipolar disorder. If you have one of these conditions, your symptoms may worsen with the seasons. […] Young age. SAD is more common among younger adults. It has been reported in teens and children. Your chances of getting it decrease as you get older.

• #35 Seasonal affective disorder – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder

  The symptoms of it mimic those of Dysthymia or even major depressive disorder. There is also potential risk of suicide in some patients experiencing SAD. […] The validity of SAD has been called into question multiple times. A 2008 study indicated that some people stay without sun for months, yet they are not affected by SAD. A 2016 analysis from the Centers for Disease Control found no links between depression, seasonality or sunlight exposure and suggested discontinuation of the diagnosis.

• #36 Seasonal Affective Disorder | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2012/1201/p1037.html

  Seasonal affective disorder is a combination of biologic and mood disturbances with a seasonal pattern, typically occurring in the autumn and winter with remission in the spring or summer. […] There may be several biologic mechanisms underlying SAD, including circadian phase delay or advance (the phase shift hypothesis), which tends to appear as the chief cause in the literature. Additional contributing mechanisms may include retinal sensitivity to light, neurotransmitter dysfunction, genetic variations affecting circadian rhythms, and serotonin levels. […] Physicians must also consider the presence of psychological mechanisms, such as vulnerability to stress, when treating patients with SAD. Other risk factors include living in northern latitudes, and having a first-degree relative who has manifested symptoms of depression.

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