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Is it the winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Forget January 16 or "Blue Monday," the third Monday of January, and rumored to be the most depressing day of the year.
There's simply no science behind it.
Instead, pay attention to your mood. Seasonal changes are common, especially among women, and shouldn't be ignored.
Here, we summarize the differences between the winter blues and seasonal affective disorder &mdash; and the latest evidence on how to cope.

<ol>
<li>Levitt AJ, Boyle MH, Joffe RT, Baumal Z. Estimated prevalence of the seasonal subtype of major&nbsp;depression in a Canadian community sample. Can J Psychiatry. 2000 Sep;45(7):650-4. doi: &nbsp;<a href="10.1177/070674370004500708.">10.1177/070674370004500708</a>.</li>
<li>University of Utah Health. (2018, October 18). Seasonal Affective Disorder Affects Women More Than&nbsp;Men. <a href="https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=1_qarwlqvf">https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=1_qarwlqvf</a></li>
<li>SciLine &ndash; American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2022, November 15). Dr. Kelly Rohan:&nbsp;Beating the winter blues. <a href="https://www.sciline.org/public-health/daylight-saving-fall-back/#video-transcript">https://www.sciline.org/public-health/daylight-saving-fall-back/#video-transcript</a></li>
<li>Modell JG, Rosenthal NE, Harriett AE, Krishen A, Asgharian A, Foster VJ, Metz A, Rockett CB, Wightman&nbsp;DS. Seasonal affective disorder and its prevention by anticipatory treatment with bupropion XL. Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Oct 15;58(8):658-67. doi:&nbsp;<a href="10.1177/070674370004500708.">10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.07.021</a>.</li>
<li>Melrose S. Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment Approaches.&nbsp;Depress Res Treat. 2015;2015:178564. doi: <a href="10.1177/070674370004500708.">10.1155/2015/178564</a>.</li>
<li>Rohan KJ, Meyerhoff J, Ho SY, Evans M, Postolache TT, Vacek PM. Outcomes One and Two Winters&nbsp;Following Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Am J&nbsp;Psychiatry. 2016 Mar 1;173(3):244-51. doi: <a href="10.1177/070674370004500708.">10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15060773</a>.</li>
</ol>

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