Seasonal Affective Disorder in Australia: Is Photoperiod Critical?

1997 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory W. Murray ◽  
David A. Hay
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Epidemiological Survey ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Recurrent Depression ◽  
Sampling Frame ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

Objectives: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a variant of recurrent depression in which episodes are linked to a particular season, typically winter. SAD is understood as the extreme end of a continuum of seasonality in the general population. Photoperiod (the timing and duration of daylight) has been assumed to be aetiologically critical. The present research used a survey design to investigate the assumed centrality of photoperiod for SAD/seasonality in Australia. Two hypotheses were tested: that self-reported seasonality does not increase further from the equator and that seasonality does not stand alone from non-seasonal neurotic complaints. Method: The sampling frame used was adult females on the Australian Twin Registry roll. A sample of 526 women residing across the latitudes of Australia responded to a survey based around the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). The SPAQ asks respondents to retrospectively report on season-related changes in mood and behaviour. The survey also contained three questionnaire measures of neurotic symptoms of anxiety and depression: the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Community Epidemiological Survey for Depression (CES-D) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory—Trait (STAI-T). Results: Self-reported seasonality did not correlate with latitude (r=0.01, NS). On the other hand, a substantial relationship was found between seasonality and each of the measures of non-seasonal complaints: GHQ (r=0.35, p<0.001); CES-D (r=0.35, p<0.001); and STAI-T (r=0.30, p<0.001). Conclusions: Within the limitations of a design based on retrospective self-report, the findings of the present study suggest that the diathesis for SAD/seasonality may not be photoperiod-specific. At least in Australia, there is provisional support for the proposal that human seasonality may have a broader psychological component. The findings are discussed in terms of established research into normal mood, trait personality and non-seasonal depression.

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.

What is this thing called “SAD”? A critique of the concept of seasonal affective disorder

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidje Hansen ◽  
Ingunn Skre ◽  
Eiliv Lund
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Recurrent Depression ◽  
Northern Norway ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
General Populations

SummaryBackground– Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is supposed to be caused by lack of daylight in winter. Yet the population of Northern Norway, living without sun for two winter months, does not spontaneously complain about depression during the dark period.Aims– To summarize research bearing upon the validity of the concept of SAD.Method– Review of relevant literature concerning the epidemiology of SAD and the questionnaire developed to measure it in general populations, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ).Results– Large population studies from northern Norway do not point to a higher prevalence of depression in winter than expected in any other general population. The psychometric properties of SPAQ are rather poor, and the diagnosis of SAD based on SPAQ bears little relationship to a meaningful concept of depression.Conclusions– Seasonal Affective Disorder is not a valid medical construct. Instead, “Recurrent depression with seasonal pattern” as defined in the DSM-IV and the ICD-10 should be used as terms. However, more research is needed to establish whether it is at all fruitful to single out such a subtype of recurrent depression.Declaration of Interest: None.

Differences in clinical and cognitive variables in seasonal affective disorder compared to depressive-related disorders: Evidence from a population-based study in Finland

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Morales-Muñoz ◽  
S. Koskinen ◽  
T. Partonen
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Composite International Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Population Based Study

AbstractBackground:Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression with seasonal pattern. Although it involves some idiosyncratic symptoms, it can overlap with other depressive disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD) or dysthymia. We aimed to characterize the differences in specific cognitive and clinical symptoms between SAD and depressive-related disorders.Methods:In total, 4554 Finnish subjects from the population-based Health 2011 Survey were interviewed with the Munich version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) and filled in the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). From this sample for our analysis, we included those participants who fulfilled the criteria for SAD (n = 171), MDD (n = 153) or dysthymia (n = 84) and their 816 psychologically healthy controls matched by age and gender. In addition to M-CIDI and SPAQ, the Beck Depression Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire, an abbreviated version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, the category verbal fluency test, and the CERAD 10-word list were used.Results:Subjects with dysthymia showed major deficits in both clinical and cognitive domains compared to MDD, SAD and healthy controls. Although clinical comorbidity was mild in SAD, these participants showed similar cognitive deficits to dysthymic subjects and greater impairments than MDD.Conclusions:SAD subjects show a differential clinical and cognitive profile compared to other depressive-related disorders. Although less severe clinical symptoms are found in these individuals, some cognitive impairment already appears in subjects with SAD recruited from a population-based study.

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.

Seasonal affective disorder and latitude of living

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 336-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greta Brancaleoni ◽  
Elena Nikitenkova ◽  
Luigi Grassi ◽  
Vidje Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Conflicts Of Interests ◽  
Environmental Light ◽  
Sleeping Problems ◽  
The University ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire ◽  
North Norway

SUMMARYAim – Since the importance of latitude of living for the prevalence of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is unclear, the study aims to test the latitude hypothesis by comparing SAD in two rather similar groups of students living at latitudes far apart. Methods – Two groups of students, 199 in Tromsø, Norway (690 N) and 188 in Ferrara, Italy (440 N) were asked to fill in the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire. Results – Global Seasonality score (GS-score) was significantly higher in Italian than in Norwegian students, in females and in students with sleeping-problems. Norwegian students had significantly higher SAD prevalence in winter and in spring. Most people in both countries felt worst in October and November, and the prevalence of Autumn SAD was not significantly different between the two countries. Conclusions – The hypothesis that SAD is linked to amount of environmental light and latitude of living was not supported.Declaration of Interest: The study was fully financed by the University of Tromsø and the University Hospital North Norway, and there are no conflicts of interests.

Classification of recurrent depression with seasonal pattern: a comparison between two diagnostic instruments

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 610-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Brancaleoni ◽  
V. Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Affective Disorder ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Recurrent Depression ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Seasonal Depression ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

IntroductionThe validity of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) in diagnosing Seasonal Affective Disorder is questionable. In 2004 the Seasonal Health Questionnaire (SHQ) was proposed as a more appropriate screening instrument for depression with a seasonal pattern.Objectives/aimsTo compare the performance of the SPAQ, the most commonly used tool for assigning a diagnosis of SAD, with the SHQ, which uses the DSM-IV criteria for recurrent depression with seasonal pattern.MethodsTwo samples of approximately 200 medical students in Tromsø, Norway (69° north) and Ferrara, Italy (44° north), filled in both questionnaires. Prevalence of recurrent depression with seasonal pattern was calculated according to gender and latitude of living, with both instruments. Using SHQ diagnosis as the gold standard, sensitivity and specificity of the SPAQ as a diagnostic instrument was ascertained.ResultsThe prevalence of depression with seasonal pattern measured by SPAQ was 12% in Norway and 14.5% in Italy, the difference was not significant. Prevalence was highest in females in both countries (Norway: males 4.2%, females 14.7%, Italy: males 2.3%, females 18.8%), but the difference was only significant in Italy (p = 0.007). According to SHQ, the corresponding figures in Norway 5.9% and 7.1% (p = 0.77) and in Italy 3.9% and 3% (p = 0.75). The specificity of the SPAQ was 88.8% and the sensitivity was 47.3%.ConclusionCompared to a DSM-IV diagnosis of depression with seasonal pattern as measured by the SHQ, the SPAQ seriously overestimates the prevalence of seasonal depression, especially in women, and the sensitivity is far too low.

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.

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