Seasonal affective disorder is a form of mood disorder that changes with the seasons, usually beginning in the autumn and resolving in the springtime.
SAD is an illness which becomes more common as we move further away from the equator and there are more marked seasonal changes in sunlit hours. We know that sunlight directly affects our hormonal regulation, stimulating our brain through our eyes, a phenomenon known as a circadian rhythm.
The most common symptom of seasonal affective disorder is persistent sadness / low mood with apathy.
We all have some bad days. However, if there are long periods of low mood occurring on a seasonal basis the diagnosis of SAD is more likely.
Diagnosis is usually made through history but outruling an underlying cause such as anaemia, vitamin D deficiency and hypothyroidism is always important.
Dr Brian Higgins, GP at Galway Primary Care joined the Last Word to discuss.
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