Seasonal affective disorder

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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.

Common symptoms reported by people with seasonal affective disorder

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Individual Therapy Listen to Music Vitamin B Complex
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine Methylphenidate Vitamin B Complex
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Ibuprofen Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Tramadol
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Sertraline Fluoxetine Duloxetine
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Clonazepam Alprazolam Lorazepam
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.
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Treatments taken by people for seasonal affective disorder

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Blue light therapy)
Type
Procedures
How many have tried
142
Tried for
seasonal affective disorder (8)
Treatment name(s)

(Zoloft)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
187
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.
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Compare treatments taken by people with seasonal affective disorder

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Blue light therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for seasonal affective disorder (4 evaluations)
Side effects
eye pain
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
seasonal affective disorder (8)
Treatment name(s)

(Zoloft)
Perceived effectiveness
for seasonal affective disorder (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
seasonal affective disorder (2)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None
Data from patients with seasonal affective disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:

Who has seasonal affective disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 1 new patients joined this month
  • 211 say seasonal affective disorder is their primary condition
Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 3
20s 68
30s 142
40s 180
50s 252
60s 205
70+ 49
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 171
20-29 years 94
30-39 years 77
40-49 years 55
50-59 years 18
60-69 years 5
70+ years 0

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 157
Female 743
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 422
Not Diagnosed 150
These charts show data from seasonal affective disorder patients who have completed their condition history
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