title: Is winter depression a bipolar disorder?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lewy
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sack
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Blood
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wesche
mesh_terms: 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