City of Philadelphia
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As winter transitions into spring, longer days of sunshine and warmer weather can improve one’s mood after a cold winter keeps us inside. However, for some individuals in Philadelphia, this change doesn’t happen right away.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression linked to seasonal changes, typically appearing during fall and winter, when daylight hours decrease. Unlike other types of depression, SAD follows a predictable pattern.
“It has an annual recurrence … typically fall and winter when the days are shorter,” said Dr. George Brainard, professor of neurology at Thomas Jefferson University who directs Jefferson’s Light Research program.