Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - Diagnosis

Visit your GP if you have symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Effective treatments are available if you're diagnosed with the condition.

Your GP may carry out a psychological assessment to check your mental health.

They may ask about:

• your mood
• your lifestyle
• your eating and sleeping patterns
• any seasonal changes in your thoughts and behaviour
• whether your symptoms prevent you from carrying out normal activities
• you and your family's mental health history

Your GP may also carry out a brief physical examination.

Confirming a diagnosis of SAD

SAD can be difficult to diagnose because there are many other types of depression that have similar symptoms.

A diagnosis of SAD can usually be confirmed if:

• your depression occurs at a similar time each year
• periods of depression are followed by periods without depression
• you've had symptoms during the same time of year for 2 or more years in a row