Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Test

Seasonal Affective Disorder Test

Table of Contents

Do you feel sad during winter? Do you feel a lack of energy on cloudy days? Is it difficult for you to cope with the days that are without adequate sunlight? Or, can you feel a change in your eating and sleeping patterns during these seasonal changes? Take this Seasonal Affective Disorder Test to know whether you have signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or not.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that many people go through for short periods of time when they feel sad or changes in their mood that begin and end when the seasons change. These symptoms usually occur during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight and usually improve with the arrival of spring.

The most difficult months for people with SAD in the United States tend to be January and February. While it is much less common, some people experience SAD in the summer. This condition is also known as seasonal depression or winter depression.
In the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), this disorder is identified as a type of depression – Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern.

Some signs of SAD include:

  • Feeling sad or having a depressed mood during winter/cloudy days
  • Loss of interest, energy, and pleasure in activities once enjoyed during winter/cloudy days
  • Changes in appetite and sleep during winter/cloudy days
  • Difficulty in concentrating, or making decisions
  • Ruminating thoughts and feelings of low self-esteem.

Instructions For Taking Seasonal Affective Disorder Test

Below is a list of statements relating to an individual’s signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Please read each statement carefully, and select options that you find relevant for you.

Please note: This seasonal affective disorder assessment is a self-assessment and not a diagnostic test. Also note that the symptoms of this condition must be present only at a specific time of year (e.g., in the fall or winter) and full remission must occur at a characteristic time of year (e.g., spring).

An individual must demonstrate at least 2 episodes of depressive disturbance in the previous 2 years, and these occurrences during specific seasons must be significantly more frequent than those experienced during non-seasonal periods.