Seasonal affective disorder among primary care attenders and a community sample in Aberdeen

Eagles, John M.; Wileman, Samantha; Cameron, Isobel M.; Howie, F. L.; Lawton, Kenneth; Gray, Douglas A.; Andrew, Jane; Naji, Simon Alexander

doi:10.1192/bjp.175.5.472

Cited by 32 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…al. [6] found a prevalence of 5.3% of seasonal affective disorder during the winter months in a primary care population and Thompson et al [1] found a prevalence of 5.6% of seasonal affective disorders in a primary care population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most widely used instrument in those studies is the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), a self rating screening questionnaire that retrospectively measures seasonal variation in mood, social activities and atypical depressive symptoms such as increased sleep, increased appetite and weight and a lowered energy level [4]. Female gender and young age have been described to be associated with a higher prevalence of SAD [5,6]. The influence of latitude on the prevalence of SAD has been suggested but could not be demonstrated [7,8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonality in depressive and anxiety symptoms among primary care patients and in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders; results from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety

et al. 2011

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BackgroundLittle is known about seasonality of specific depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms in different patient populations. This study aims to assess seasonal variation of depressive and anxiety symptoms in a primary care population and across participants who were classified in diagnostic groups 1) healthy controls 2) patients with a major depressive disorder, 3) patients with any anxiety disorder and 4) patients with a major depression and any anxiety disorder.MethodsData were used from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). First, in 5549 patients from the NESDA primary care recruitment population the Kessler-10 screening questionnaire was used and data were analyzed across season in a multilevel linear model. Second, in 1090 subjects classified into four groups according to psychiatric status according to the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, overall depressive symptoms and atypical versus melancholic features were assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms. Anxiety and fear were assessed with the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Fear questionnaire. Symptom levels across season were analyzed in a linear regression model.ResultsIn the primary care population the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms did not show a seasonal pattern. In the diagnostic groups healthy controls and patients with any anxiety disorder, but not patients with a major depressive disorder, showed a small rise in depressive symptoms in winter. Atypical and melancholic symptoms were both elevated in winter. No seasonal pattern for anxiety symptoms was found. There was a small gender related seasonal effect for fear symptoms.ConclusionsSeasonal differences in severity or type of depressive and anxiety symptoms, as measured with a general screening instrument and symptom questionnaires, were absent or small in effect size in a primary care population and in patient populations with a major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonality in depressive and anxiety symptoms among primary care patients and in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders; results from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety

et al. 2011

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“…Studies in the UK screening with the SPAQ and fur ther inter viewing using DSM-IV criteria have yielded rates between 2.4 and 3.5 per cent. 5,6 SAD is generally believed to affect women more than men and the age of onset is usually between 20-30 years, although most can recall symptoms from earlier in their life. The ratio discrepancy between the sexes tends to diminish in old age.…”

Section: Characteristics Of Sadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogenesis and management of seasonal affective disorder

Cotterell¹

2010

Prog Neurol Psychiatry

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“…More recent studies in the UK, utilising interviews and DSM-IV criteria after screened patients had fulfilled SPAQ criteria for Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2004), vol. 10. http:/ /apt.rcpsych.org/ winter depression, gave rise to estimated adult community prevalence rates of 3.5% in Aberdeen (Eagles et al, 1999) and 2.4% in North Wales (Michalak et al, 2001).…”

Section: Epidemiology Of Winter Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light therapy and the management of winter depression

Eagles¹

2004

Adv. psychiatr. treat

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Much the most common type of seasonal affective disorder at temperate latitudes is recurrent winter depression, which probably affects around 3% of adults in the UK to a clinically significant degree. In this article, diagnosis and presentation are discussed and symptoms are contrasted with those of nonseasonal depression. Aetiology and epidemiology, with regard to age, gender and latitude of residence, are described. Sufferers are often treated with light therapy, and this is described in some detail, with mention of effectiveness, prediction of outcome, timescales of response, side-effects, use of lightboxes and alternatives to lightboxes. Other general aspects of the management of seasonal affective disorder, including the use of antidepressant medication, are also outlined.John Eagles is a consultant psychiatrist at Royal Cornhill Hospital (Cornhill Road, Aberdeen AB25 2ZH, UK) and an honorary reader in mental health at the University of Aberdeen. He has been assessing and treating patients with seasonal affective disorder for 10 years. His other research interests include eating disorders and suicide.

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Seasonal affective disorder among primary care attenders and a community sample in Aberdeen

Abstract: There is a high prevalence of SAD among patients attending their GPs in January in Aberdeen; this is likely to reflect a similar rate in the community.

Cited by 32 publications

References 17 publications

Seasonality in depressive and anxiety symptoms among primary care patients and in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders; results from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety

Seasonality in depressive and anxiety symptoms among primary care patients and in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders; results from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety

Pathogenesis and management of seasonal affective disorder

Light therapy and the management of winter depression

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