Diagnosing and managing seasonal affective disorder

Mood and behavior changes that have a seasonal pattern were first called seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in 1984. SAD, which affects about 5% of Americans, is most common among reproductive-age women. Afflicted patients typically experience debilitating somatic complaints of fatigue, discomfort, lethargy and atypical depressive complaints of hypersomnia, increased appetite, carbohydrate craving, and weight gain. This article presents current issues in the clinical assessment and management of SAD.