Seasonal Affective disorder?

Question

I need to know if SAD is herititary, functional, or organic. If not any of these then what?

so what the first person says is that its hereditary? or unknown?

Answer 1

Causes


Neurotransmitters and depression
Doctors don't know the causes of seasonal affective disorder, but heredity, age and your body's chemical makeup all seem to play a role. So can the availability of sunlight.

Researchers suspect that reduced sunlight may disrupt circadian rhythms that regulate your body's internal clock, which lets you know when it's time to sleep and when it's time to wake up. This disruption may cause depression. For example, winter depression is more common in people living in more-northern latitudes, such as in Alaska, where the lengths of days and nights are more variable during the various seasons.

Some scientists have theorized that melatonin, a sleep-related hormone that's also linked to depression, might be the cause. Production of melatonin increases during the long nights of winter.

Other research suggests that lack of serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that seems to be triggered by sunlight, is the reason for winter depression. People who are depressed are known to have decreased levels of serotonin in their brains.

Answer 2

Your first answer above is perfect.

Remember mental health care is still in its childhood. We are continuing to learn and research continues but as far as any mental illness being hereditary their is no research to date that can make a direct link.

Answer 3

This might be helpful
http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/