Seasonal affective disorder - Noteworthy - winter blues mental disorder - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 2003

Seasonal Affective Disorder, otherwise known as 'winter blues," affects approximately six out of every 100 people. Lauren Solotar, chief psychologist at the May Institute, Norwood, Mass., describes it as a biochemical imbalance in the brains hypothalamus gland triggered by shortened days. There may be several symptoms, including changes in appetite, especially cravings for carbohydrates or sweets; avoidance of social situations; fatigue; weight gain oversleeping; and irritability.

They may be alleviated by "light" therapy.