Evaluation of seasonality in six clinical populations and two normal populations.
The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) was used to evaluate retrospectively self-reported seasonal changes in mood and behavior (seasonality) of two normal and six clinical populations: patients with winter-seasonal affective disorder (SAD), summer-SAD, eating disorders, bipolar affective disorder, major depressive disorder and subsyndromal winter-SAD. The SPAQ successfully discriminated between groups expected to have high seasonality scores, such as winter-SAD, summer-SAD and subsyndromal winter-SAD, and normal controls. Bipolars and major depressives had normal seasonality scores. Patients with eating disorders had unexpectedly high scores. There was a general tendency for all groups to eat and sleep more and to gain weight in the winter. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Hardin
T A
TA
Clinical Psychobiology Branch, NIMH, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Wehr
T A
TA
Brewerton
T
T
Kasper
S
S
Berrettini
W
W
Rabkin
J
J
Rosenthal
N E
NE
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001066:Appetite; D001143:Arousal; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D012621:Seasons; D012894:Sleep Stages; D012919:Social Behavior