title: Intensity and pleasantness of sucrose taste in patients with winter depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased consumption of carbohydrates and craving for sweets are considered core features of winter depression. Unfortunately, little is known about neural and behavioral correlates of these symptoms. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate taste responses to sucrose solutions in depressed patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Intensity and pleasantness ratings of sucrose solutions, electrogustometric thresholds, and taste identification abilities were assessed in depressed patients with SAD and non-seasonal affective disorder (non-SAD), and in non-depressed controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electrogustometric thresholds and identification abilities did not differ between the study groups. There were no differences between the groups in intensity or pleasantness ratings of sucrose solutions (1-30%). The proportion of 'sweet likers', i.e. subjects rating the highest sucrose concentration as most pleasant, was similar in the controls, SAD, and non-SAD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest that: (i) winter depression is not associated with major alterations in gustatory function; and (ii) sweet craving and increased consumption of carbohydrates in patients with winter depression is not secondary to altered responses to sweet tastants. More studies are needed to characterize hedonic responses of patients with SAD to other sweet and non-sweet foods.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Swiecicki
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scinska
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bzinkowska
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torbinski
authors.forename: Halina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sienkiewicz-Jarosz
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samochowiec
authors.forename: Przemyslaw
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bienkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057181:Pleasure; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012621:Seasons; D013395:Sucrose; D013649:Taste
chemical_list: D013395:Sucrose
keywords: Electrogustometry; Gustation; Seasonal affective disorder; Sweet liking; Winter depression