Mood Worsening on Days with High Pollen Counts is associated with a Summer Pattern of Seasonality

Abstract

Background: Summer/spring-type seasonal affective disorder (S-SAD) is the less common subtype of seasonal affective disorder and evidence regarding potential triggers of S-SAD is scarce. Recent reports support association of airborne-pollen with seasonal exacerbation of depression (mood seasonality) and timing of suicidal behavior. Therefore, we hypothesized that Old Order Amish (OOA) with summer/spring pattern of seasonality (abbreviated as summer pattern) and S-SAD will have significant mood worsening on high pollen days. Methods: A seasonal pattern of mood worsening and SAD parameters were estimated using Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Age- and gender-adjusted ANCOVAs and post hoc analyses were conducted to compare mood worsening on days with high pollen counts between summer-pattern vs no-summer-pattern of mood worsening, S-SAD vs no-S-SAD, winter-pattern vs no-winter-pattern of mood worsening, and W-SAD vs no-W-SAD groups. Results: The prevalence of S-SAD was 0.4%, while 4.5% of individuals had a summer pattern of mood seasonality. A statistically significant difference for mood worsening on high pollen days was observed between summer-pattern vs no-summer-pattern of mood worsening (p = 0.006). The significant association between S-SAD vs no-SAD groups (p = 0.032) for mood worsening on high pollen days did not withstand Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons. No significant association was found for winter-pattern vs no-winter-pattern of mood worsening (p = 0.61) and for W-SAD vs no-W-SAD (p = 0.19) groups. Conclusion: Our results are consistent with previous studies implicating links between aeroallergen exposure and summer pattern of seasonality, but not the winter pattern of seasonality.

Clinical characteristics and sociodemographic features of psychotic major depression

“…There have been consistent reports of an association between pollen allergy symptoms and low mood among patients with seasonal mental disorder [ 30 – 32 ]. An epidemiological study has demonstrated that the prevalence of autoimmune disease was significantly higher in individuals with SZ and their parents compared with unaffected controls [ 33 ].…”

Can we prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with melatonergic agents?

“…The definition, however, was then further restricted to the winter-type form, which is characterised by the depressive episode occurring in either the autumn or winter and then experiencing a full remission in either spring or summer. Summer-type SAD presents with different symptomatology and is a rarer form (Akram 2019). Participants with bipolar affective disorder were excluded, as were people demonstrating a depressive disorder from another medical condition, but studies that included people at risk of SAD and whose medical condition was not the direct cause for their depressive episode were considered.…”