The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first drug to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

The FDA has approved GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Wellbutrin XL (bupropion HCL extended release) to treat SAD.

According to the FDA, SAD is characterized by recurring bouts of major depression that usually coincide with the shorter daylight hours of autumn and winter. Though a person with SAD may have depressive episodes at other times, the number of seasonal episodes significantly outnumber the non-seasonal ones.