Hard times and good friends: negative life events and social support in patients with seasonal and nonseasonal depression.
OBJECTIVE
Although a relatively large body of research has now accumulated concerning the relation between negative life events, social support, and major depressive disorder (MDD), little is known about the relation between seasonal affective disorder and these psychosocial variables. This study aimed to compare baseline levels of negative life events (NLEs) and perceived social support (SS) in patients with seasonal and nonseasonal depression.


METHODS
Canadian patients with winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) (n = 26) and nonseasonal recurrent MDD (n = 66) completed measures of recent NLEs (the List of Threatening Experiences) and perceived SS (the Social Support Survey) prior to treatment.


RESULTS
No significant between-group differences were observed in mean number of NLEs experienced or in quality of SS. Perceived SS was impaired in both groups, compared with patients with chronic medical conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study complement those of previous research reporting increased incidence of NLEs and decreased SS in primary care patients with high seasonality in the UK. Future research is required to determine the causal relation between these psychosocial risk factors and SAD and to assess whether they have an effect on, or are affected by, treatment interventions for SAD.
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia; UBC Hospital, VCHA, Vancouver, British Columbia. emichala@interchange.ubc.ca
Erin E
EE
Michalak
Edwin M
EM
Tam
Chinnapalli V
CV
Manjunath
Lakshmi N
LN
Yatham
Anthony J
AJ
Levitt
Robert D
RD
Levitan
Raymond W
RW
Lam
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents