The History of Seasonal Affective Disorder as a diagnosis

Winter depression (or winter blues) has long been recognized as a common ailment in Scandinavians. Doctors have estimated that approximately one fifth of all Swedes suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it is believed to be hereditary.

SAD was first described in the sixth century AD by a Gothic scholar named Jordanes. In his book, Getica, he described the ailment when discussing the inhabitants of Scandza (Scandinavia).

In the United States, the diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder was first suggested by one Norman E. Rosenthal, MD. His work was based on personal observations of his own seasonal adjustment when moving from South Africa to New York. Like Jordanes, Dr. Rosenthal has published on the topic.

Since the 1990's SAD has come to be recognized as a real, treatable mood disorder by general consensus among western medicine practitioners.