title: Seasonal affective disorder among psychiatric nurses in Aberdeen.
abstract: The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire was posted to psychiatric nurses in Aberdeen, and 443 (73% of eligible subjects) responded. The rate of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) was 2.9% and for subsyndromal SAD (S-SAD) was 9.5%. When rates were age and sex adjusted to the Aberdeen population aged 15 to 64, this yielded a prevalence of 1.9% for SAD and 7.2% for S-SAD. As in other studies, there was a preponderance of young female sufferers, but being married appeared to be protective. Comparisons with epidemiological studies elsewhere lead to the conclusion that population rates of winter depression relate to a combination of genetic susceptibility/selection, latitude of residence and geographical mobility.
authors.affiliation: Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Eagles
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Boshier
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jamieson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology