Does old man winter make you SAD?

• Position: Depression - Seasonal affective disorder - Brief article

The theory for seasonal affective disorder started in the 1980s--and it continues to be just a theory. However, Alan Schmetzer, professor emeritus of psychiatry for the Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, indicates that, for him, SAD has proven to be a real disorder. "It has stood the test of time for the last 30 years," he declares.

As the Earth rotates around the sun, the amount of sunlight decreases--nighttime lengthens and daylight decreases. For people who suffer from SAD, the winter and fall months can be brutal. SAD is a subtype of major depression, which means the same symptoms of depression--such as social withdrawal and lack of interest--still apply For example, Finland experiences long winters and 10% of the population is estimated to suffer from...