scholarly journals High prevalence of seasonal affective disorder among persons with severe visual impairment

2016 ◽  
Vol 208 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helle ⊘stergaard Madsen ◽  
Henrik Dam ◽  
Ida Hageman
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Light Perception ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire ◽  
Light Input

BackgroundLight severely affects the occurrence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).AimsTo compare the prevalence of SAD in persons with severe visual impairment and persons with full sight, and in persons with severe visual impairment with or without light perception.MethodThis cross-sectional study assessed the Global Seasonality Score (GSS) and the prevalence of SAD among 2781 persons with visual impairment and 4099 persons with full sight using the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ).ResultsRespondents with visual impairment had significantly higher GSS and prevalence of SAD compared with full sight controls, P<0.001. Light perception respondents were more vulnerable to seasonal change than both full sight and no light perception respondents.ConclusionsThe study showed a highly significant association between visual impairment and SPAQ-defined SAD parameters, supporting the hypothesis that decreased retinal light input plays a role in the pathogenesis of SAD.

scholarly journals Seasonal sensitivity and psychiatric morbidity: study about seasonal affective disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aníbal Fonte ◽  
Bruno Coutinho
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Psychiatric Disturbance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Vocational Courses ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

Abstract Background Seasonal Affective Disorder is a recurrent depressive disorder which usually begins in the fall/winter and enters into remission in the spring/summer, although in some cases may occur in the summer with remission in the autumn-winter. In this study the authors evaluated the association between seasonal changes in mood and behavior with psychiatric disturbance. Method Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Participants, students attending higher education and vocational courses (N = 324), were evaluated with the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) and the Screening Scale for Mental Health (ER80). Results Among the respondents, 12.7% showed seasonal affective disorder (SAD), 29.0% showed subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder (s-SAD) and 58.3% did not show significant seasonal affective symptomatology. As for psychiatric morbidity, 36.6% of subjects with SAD and 13.8% of those with s-SAD were considered “psychiatric cases” whereas for subjects without SAD this value was only 3.2%. Conclusions There is a statistically significant association between psychiatric morbidity and seasonal affective disorder. This association corroborates the importance of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire in screening for seasonal fluctuations in mood and behavior related disorders, and the clinical need for recognition of these conditions, particularly associated suffering and disabilities.

Seasonal affective disorder among primary care attenders and a community sample in Aberdeen

1999 ◽  
Vol 175 (5) ◽  
pp. 472-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Eagles ◽  
Samantha M. Wileman ◽  
Isobel M. Cameron ◽  
Fiona L. Howie ◽  
Kenneth Lawton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Similar Rate ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

BackgroundThere are no large published studies of the prevalence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) among UK populations.AimTo determine the prevalence of SAD among patients attending a general practitioner (GP).MethodPatients aged 16–64 consulting their GPs in Aberdeen during January were screened with the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). SPAQs were also mailed to 600 matched patients, who had not consulted their GP during January. Surgery attenders who fulfilled SPAQ criteria for SAD were invited for interview to determine whether they met criteria for SAD in DSM–IVand the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression– Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH–SAD).ResultsOf 6161 surgery attenders, 4557 (74%) completed a SPAQ; 442 (9.7%) were SPAQ cases of SAD. Rate of caseness on the SPAQ did not differ between surgery attenders and non-attenders. Of 223 interviewed SPAQ cases of SAD, 91 (41%) also fulfilled DSM–IVand SIGH–SAD criteria.ConclusionsThere is a high prevalence of SAD among patients attending their GPs in January in Aberdeen; this is likely to reflect a similar rate in the community.

scholarly journals A cross-sectional study of factors affecting seasonality in bipolar disorder

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Kumar Mittal ◽  
Shubham Mehta ◽  
Ram Kumar Solanki ◽  
Mukesh Kumar Swami ◽  
Parth Singh Meena
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Behavioural Patterns ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

<p><strong>Background.</strong> Researchers have evinced interest in the effect of seasonal variations on mood and behavioural patterns in affective disorders. </p><p><strong>Objective. </strong>To study seasonality in bipolar disorder (BD) patients and also the factors affecting this seasonality. </p><p><strong>Method. </strong>Forty-nine patients with BD in euthymic phase were recruited and analysed using<strong> </strong>the<strong> </strong>Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. </p><p><strong>Results. </strong>Most of the patients were morning types but chronotype had no influence on seasonality. Age of patient and number of episodes were the most important factors affecting seasonality in BD. </p><p><strong>Conclusion. </strong>Seasonality and its influencing factors must be considered while managing bipolar disorder.</p>

scholarly journals Seasonal affective disorder among general practice attenders

2002 ◽  
Vol 180 (5) ◽  
pp. 394-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Kendrick
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
American Psychiatric Association ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Primary Health Care Services ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

In this issue, Eagles et al report that people suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are heavy users of primary health care services (Eagles et al, 2002, this issue). Nearly 10% of patients attending practices in Aberdeen screened positive for SAD using the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ; Rosenthal et al, 1987), among whom around half of those attending for interview fulfilled DSM–IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for recurrent major depression with seasonal pattern. The patients with SAD had consulted significantly more frequently over a 5-year period, with a variety of symptoms both related and unrelated to SAD, and had received significantly more prescriptions, investigations and referrals than patients found not to fulfil the criteria for SAD.

scholarly journals Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment Approaches

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherri Melrose
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Typical Treatment ◽  
Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is a recurrent major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern usually beginning in fall and continuing into winter months. A subsyndromal type of SAD, or S-SAD, is commonly known as “winter blues.” Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer. Symptoms center on sad mood and low energy. Those most at risk are female, are younger, live far from the equator, and have family histories of depression, bipolar disorder, or SAD. Screening instruments include the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Typical treatment includes antidepressant medications, light therapy, Vitamin D, and counselling. This paper provides an overview of SAD.

scholarly journals Seasonality of blood neopterin levels in the Old Order Amish

Pteridines ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 163-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hira Mohyuddin ◽  
Polymnia Georgiou ◽  
Abhishek Wadhawan ◽  
Melanie L. Daue ◽  
Lisa A. Brenner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Old Order Amish ◽  
Old Order ◽  
Neopterin Level ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

AbstractSeasonal changes in non-human animals and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in humans are associated with immune activation in winter relative to summer. We intended to measure seasonal variation in neopterin, a marker of cellular immunity, and its interactions with gender and seasonality of mood. We studied 320 Amish from Lancaster, PA, USA (men=128; 40%) with an average age [Standard deviation (SD)] of 56.7 (13.9) years. Blood neopterin level was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seasonality was measured with Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Statistical analysis included analysis of covariance (ANCOVAs) and multivariate linear regression. We also investigated interactions of seasonal differences in neopterin with gender, seasonality scores and estimation of SAD diagnosis. We found a significantly higher neopterin level in winter than in summer (p=0.006). There were no significant gender or seasonality interactions. Our study confirmed the hypothesized higher neopterin level in winter. A cross sectional design was our major limitation. If this finding will be replicated by longitudinal studies in multiple groups, neopterin could be used to monitor immune status across seasons in demographically diverse samples, even if heterogeneous in gender distribution, and degree of seasonality of mood.

scholarly journals Prevalence of anaemia and visual impairment among primary school children of Ahmedabad City, Gujarat: a cross sectional study

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 1394
Author(s):  
Geet Gunjana ◽  
Nisha Upadhyay ◽  
Grishma Dixit ◽  
Nilesh Thakor
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nutritional Anemia ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Prevalence Of Anemia

Background: Nutritional anemia and visual impairment among school age children are recognized as public health problem worldwide. The objective of the study was to prevalence of anemia and visual impairment among school going adolescents of Ahmedabad city, Gujarat.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried during period from January 2012 to March 2012. 4 schools were selected by purposive sampling. After taking the permission from principals of schools and informed written consent of the parents of the children, 421 children from these schools of Ahmedabad city were examined for anemia and visual impairment. The data was collected by predesigned, pretested performa and analyzed using Epi Info.Results: Out of total 421 children 205 (48.7%) were female. Mean age of the study children was 7.9 ± 1.06 years. The prevalence of anemia in children in present study was 61.9 % (261 children). The prevalence of anemia in female (134, 62.9%) was higher than males (130, 60.1%). Moderate to severe visual impairment and blindness was 7.2% in girls and 10.5% in boys respectively and the gender difference was not statistically significant. Though 38 (8.9%) children had moderate to severe visual impairment to blindness only 10 (2.3%) children were wearing spectacles.Conclusions: High prevalence of anemia and visual impairment among these children needs great attention and health education. 

Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder in visual impairment and blindness - a pilot study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Helle Østergaard Madsen ◽  
Shakoor Ba-Ali ◽  
Ida Hageman ◽  
Henrik Lund-Andersen ◽  
Klaus Martiny
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Depression Score ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Light Perception

Abstract Objective: Seasonal and non-seasonal depression are prevalent conditions in visual impairment. We assessed the effects and side effects of light therapy in persons with severe visual impairment/blindness who had recurrent depressive symptoms in winter corresponding to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or subsyndromal SAD (sSAD). Results: We included 18 persons (11 with severe visual impairment, 3 with light perception, 4 with no light perception) who met screening criteria for sSAD/SAD in a single-arm, assessor-blinded trial of 6 weeks light therapy. In the 12 persons who completed the 6 weeks of treatment, the post-treatment depression score was reduced (p < 0.001), and subjective wellbeing (p = 0.01) and sleep quality were improved (p = 0.03). In 6/12 participants (50%), the post-treatment depression score was below the cut-off set for remission. In 4 participants with visual impairment, side effects (glare or transiently altered visual function) led to drop-out or exclusion. Conclusion: Light therapy was associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms in persons with severe visual impairment/blindness. Eye safety remains a concern in persons with residual sight.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document