Psychopathology of seasonal affective disorder patients in comparison with major depression patients who have attempted suicide.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have compared the psychopathology of patients with seasonal and nonseasonal mood disorders.


METHODS
We compared the psychopathology of a consecutively referred sample of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) outpatients (N = 87) with that of hospitalized suicide attempters who had nonseasonal major depression (N = 65) by using the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS). Diagnoses were made according to DSM-III-R criteria. Data were gathered from October 1992 to April 1996.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the CPRS total scores of all of the observed items or of the depression subscale items between the groups. The SAD sample had significantly (p <.05) higher scores on 18 reported non-psychotic items than the non-SAD suicide attempters. Eleven CPRS items were independently associated with SAD in a backward logistic regression analysis: the reported items were hostile feelings, indecision (negatively), lassitude, failing memory, increased sleep, muscular tension, loss of sensation or movement, and disrupted thoughts, and the observed items were perplexity, slowness of movement (negatively), and agitation.


CONCLUSIONS
As compared with non-SAD suicide attempters with major depression, SAD patients have an abundant symptomatology, reflected especially by scores on self-reported items.
Pendse
Baba P G
BP
Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Malmö University Hospital, Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, Fosievägen 15, UMAS, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. Baba.Pendse@psykiatr.lu.se
Engström
Gunnar
G
Träskman-Bendz
Lil
L
D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires