Is winter depression a bipolar disorder?
Sixty-one winter depressive patients were evaluated for evidence of bipolar illness. Using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version and the General Behavior Inventory, only nine (15%) could be considered bipolar. On prospective evaluation of patients during the summer following winter depression, few showed signs of manic or hypomanic symptoms. Also, few patients had a family history of bipolar illness. When patients were asked to evaluate symptoms of winter depression, lack of energy was found to be the most prominent feature of the syndrome.
White
D M
DM
Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
Lewy
A J
AJ
Sack
R L
RL
Blood
M L
ML
Wesche
D L
DL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons