seasonal affective disorder

noun

: depression that tends to recur chiefly during the late fall and winter and is associated with shorter hours of daylight

—abbreviation SAD

Did you know?

Seasonal affective disorder hasn't been recognized as a medical condition for very long, and the term has only become part of the general English vocabulary during the past three decades or so (its earliest documented appearance in print dates from 1983). "Seasonal affective disorder" (abbreviated SAD) is also sometimes called "Winter Depression" and some researchers describe it as a "hibernation reaction" in which sensitive individuals react to the decreasing amounts of light and the colder temperatures of fall and winter.

Examples of seasonal affective disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

How to adjust your body to a time change Though some cases of seasonal affective disorder and depression may require therapy and medication, milder cases maybe remedied with natural alternatives: ◾ Improve your sleep habits. —USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024

January and February can be the gloomiest months for people who experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. —Casey Barber, CNN, 29 Jan. 2024

More:Metro Detroit slowed as snowstorm begins to pummel Michigan A new study finds Michiganders are among the top five in the country for seasonal affective disorder. —Detroit Free Press, 13 Jan. 2024

While the changes can be an inconvenience for most, those with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder and other mood disorders are much more negatively impacted by time changes, experts say. —Dr. Avish Jain, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2023

There are several types of depression, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and seasonal affective disorder. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2023

For roughly 5% of the US population, seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—a form of depression influenced by, yep, the seasons—is a very real issue. —Julia Ries, SELF, 3 Nov. 2023

From issues with circadian rhythm to more serious mental health issues such as seasonal affective disorder, early sunsets are often associated with undesirable health consequences. —Julia Landwehr, Health, 9 Nov. 2023

Key Takeaways Bright light therapy is considered a first-line treatment for seasonal affective disorder. —Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 3 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

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Medical Definition

seasonal affective disorder

noun

sea·​son·​al affective disorder ˌsēz-ᵊn-əl- 

: depression that tends to recur each year chiefly during the late fall and winter and is associated with shorter hours of daylight

—abbreviation SAD