Prognosis
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) tends to be a recurring condition, with up to 70% of patients experiencing recurrent autumn or winter depressive episodes.[54] The course of untreated SAD can be chronic and disabling, and can be associated with a high degree of medical service utilisation.[25][49] Effective management of SAD requires early detection, education, and delivery of evidence-based light therapy and pharmacotherapy that can be monitored by a healthcare provider across time. Patients with autumn- or winter-onset depressive episodes should be monitored in the spring and summer to observe the possibility of manic or hypo-manic symptom onset with increased light exposure. Compliance with treatment options is essential, as relapse can be rapid when light therapy is discontinued prematurely.[104]
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