Editing Seasonal affective disorder (section)

== History ==
SAD was formally described and named in 1984 by [[Norman E. Rosenthal]] and his colleagues at the [[National Institute of Mental Health]].<ref name="Rosenthal, NE 1984">
{{cite journal |vauthors=Rosenthal NE, Sack DA, Gillin JC, Lewy AJ, Goodwin FK, Davenport Y, Mueller PS, Newsome DA, Wehr TA |date=January 1984 |title=Seasonal affective disorder. A description of the syndrome and preliminary findings with light therapy |journal=Archives of General Psychiatry |volume=41 |issue=1 |pages=72–80 |doi=10.1001/archpsyc.1984.01790120076010 |pmc=2686645 |pmid=6581756}}</ref><ref name="Marshall2003">Marshall, Fiona. Cheevers, Peter (2003). "Positive options for Seasonal Affective Disorder", p. 77. Hunter House, Alameda, Calif. {{ISBN|0-89793-413-X}}.</ref> The initial investigation was motivated by observations of depression occurring during the dark winter months in northern regions of the United States, known as [[polar night]]. Rosenthal proposed that the reduction in available natural light during winter could contribute to this phenomenon. Subsequently, he and his colleagues conducted a [[placebo-controlled study]] that utilized light [[therapy]] to document the effects of the condition.<ref name="Rosenthal, NE 1984" /><ref name="Marshall2003" /> Although Rosenthal's ideas were initially greeted with skepticism, SAD has become well recognized. His 1993 book ''Winter Blues''<ref>{{cite book |author-link=Norman E. Rosenthal |url=https://archive.org/details/winterbluesrevis00norm |title=Winter Blues: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder |vauthors=Rosenthal NE |publisher=The Guilford Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-1593852146 |edition=Revised |location=New York |url-access=registration}}</ref> has become the standard introduction to the subject.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 26, 1994 |title=It's Wintertime: When Winter Falls, Many Find Themselves In Need Of Light |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |publisher=Gannett News Service |vauthors=More LK}}</ref>

Research on SAD in the United States began in 1979 when Herb Kern, a research engineer, noticed he felt depressed during the winter months. Kern suspected that scarcer natural light in winter was the cause and discussed the idea with NIMH scientists working on bodily rhythms. They were intrigued and responded by inventing a lightbox to treat Kern's depression, which improved.<ref name="Marshall2003" /><ref>{{cite book |title=An Oral History of Neuropsychopharmacology, The First Fifty Years, Peer Interviews |vauthors=Ban TA |publisher=American College of Neuropsychopharmacology |year=2011 |veditors=Gershon S |volume=5}}{{page needed|date=April 2019}}</ref>

SAD is usually more common in the fall/winter (Winter SAD), though it may occur during the spring/summer (Spring SAD). Winter-onset SAD is more common and is often characterized by atypical depressive symptoms including hypersomnia, increased appetite, and craving for carbohydrates. Spring/summer SAD is also seen and is more frequently associated with typical depressive symptoms including insomnia and loss of appetite. <ref>{{Cite journal |date=2024-12-23 |title=Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology |url=https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2500054-overview?utm_source=chatgpt.com&form=fpf}}</ref>