What is seasonal affective disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is episodes of depression that occur at a certain time of the year, usually during winter.

How do members experience seasonal affective disorder?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with seasonal affective disorder*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for seasonal affective disorder*

*Data from patients with seasonal affective disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with seasonal affective disorder*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Blue light therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
seasonal affective disorder (3)
Treatment

(Zoloft)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
seasonal affective disorder (2)

*Data from patients with seasonal affective disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has seasonal affective disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 4
20s 51
30s 136
40s 194
50s 242
60s 239
70+ 91

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 167
Female 785