Night eating syndrome and winter seasonal affective disorder.
Night eating syndrome (NES) and winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) share some features such as snacking for high-carbohydrate/high-fat food with increased weight, emotional distress, circadian disturbances, good response to serotoninergic antidepressants (SSRIs) and bright-light therapy. This study assessed the prevalence and socio-demographical and clinical correlates of the NES in a sample of 62 consecutive depressed outpatients with winter seasonal features (DSM-IV criteria). Depression was assessed with the 29 item-HDRS and Sigh-SAD version and with the 7-item depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. The prevalence of NES was low (4.8%). Patients suffering from NES were significantly older with a greater duration of the illness. NES was not related to depression and to Body Mass Index. NES and winter SAD are not overlapping disorders.
Friedman
Serge
S
Clinique des Maladies Mentales et de l'Encéphale (CMME), Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Université Paris V, René Descartes, France. friedman.serge@free.fr
Even
Christian
C
Thuile
Jacques
J
Rouillon
Frédéric
F
Guelfi
Julien-Daniel
JD
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain