Who is affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

People who are more prone to developing seasonal affective disorder (SAD) include:1, 2

  • Females. Between 60% and 90% of people diagnosed with SAD are women.
  • Older teens and young adults. Young people are at higher risk for winter depressive episodes. The risk of developing SAD for the first time decreases as a person grows older.
  • People who live far from the equator.
  • People who have a family history of SAD.


Author: Jeannette CurtisLast Updated: August 22, 2006
Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Alfred Lewy, MD, PhD - Neurology, Psychiatry

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