Seasonal depression: Women more affected than men

For people who live with seasonal affective disorder, winter can bring much more than gale force winds and snow; it may trigger feelings of hopelessness and depression.
According to new research, women are likely to fare worse than men.

Researchers suggest that seasonal variations in depressive symptoms are much more common in women than men. Researchers at the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom have found that women are much more likely than men to experience seasonal variations in depressive symptoms, with these symptoms peaking during the winter months.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that comes and goes with the seasons. It is estimated that SAD affects approximately 5 persent of people in the United States in any given year.
Symptoms of SAD include geelings of depression, worthlessness, low energy, fatigue, and lack of interest in usually enjoyable activities, or anhedonia. SAD most often begins in the fall, with symptoms usually subsiding by the summer months.

Previous research has suggested that women are much more likely to be affected by SAD than men.