Conditions · Mood
Seasonal affective disorder — NIMH overview
SAD as a recurrent pattern of depression, and the role of light therapy, CBT, and medication.
National Institute of Mental Health6 min read
NIMH frames SAD as a recurrent specifier of major depression, not a standalone condition. The page covers winter-pattern and summer-pattern SAD and the evidence behind bright light therapy, CBT-SAD, and antidepressants.
Practical guidance on choosing and using a 10,000-lux light box is included, along with cautions for people with bipolar disorder.
Mental Hum's library is a curated index of authoritative third-party resources. The summary above is our own framing; the full information lives at the source.
A note on this article
Mental Hum publishes general education, not medical advice. If something here reflects your own experience, please consider speaking to a clinician. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.