Psychiatry and Psychology

Seasonal Affective Disorder

A syndrome characterized by depressions that recur annually at the same time each year, usually during the winter months. Other symptoms include anxiety, irritability, decreased energy, increased appetite (carbohydrate cravings), increased duration of sleep, and weight gain. SAD (seasonal affective disorder) can be treated by daily exposure to bright artificial lights (PHOTOTHERAPY), during the season of recurrence.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A syndrome characterized by depressions that recur annually at the same time each year, usually during the winter months. Other symptoms include anxiety, irritability, decreased energy, increased appetite (carbohydrate cravings), increased duration of sleep, and weight gain. SAD (seasonal affective disorder) can be treated by daily exposure to bright artificial lights (PHOTOTHERAPY), during the season of recurrence.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

9 entry terms
  • Seasonal Affective Disorders
  • Seasonal Mood Disorder
  • Affective Disorder, Seasonal
  • Disorder, Seasonal Affective
  • Disorder, Seasonal Mood
  • Mood Disorder, Seasonal
  • Seasonal Mood Disorders
  • Winter Depression
  • Depression, Winter

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

31 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

92

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Affective Disorders (1985-1991)
  • Depressive Disorder (1984-1991)
  • Seasons (1984-1991)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WM 171.5

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Seasonal Affective Disorder. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D016574. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D016574
  2. Seasonal Affective Disorder. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder
  3. Seasonal Affective Disorder. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1051223