Prognosis
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) tends to be a recurring condition, with up to 70% of patients experiencing recurrent fall 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 utilization.[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 fall- or winter-onset depressive episodes should be monitored in the spring and summer to observe the possibility of manic or hypomanic symptom onset with increased light exposure. Compliance with treatment options is essential, as relapse can be rapid when light therapy is discontinued prematurely.[105]
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