Seasonal affective disorder and latitude of living

Brancaleoni, Greta; Nikitenkova, Elena; Grassi, Luigi; Hansen, Vidje

doi:10.1017/s1121189x00000312

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Regarding the lack of correlation between SPAQ scores and latitude in the present study, this finding agrees with other data from studies conducted in the southern hemisphere, such as in Australia 19 , but is opposite to studies conducted in the northern hemisphere [10][11][12][13] , which have shown significant correlations. This discrepancy between studies in southern and northern hemispheres gives rise to two possibilities: publication bias and magnitude of latitude range in the hemispheres.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

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Scores of a web-based version of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire in Brazil

Martinez¹,

Silva²,

Cassol³

et al. 2015

cbr

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Introduction: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a proposed mental disorder still controversial. This condition is prevalent in northern latitudes, but few studies have been conducted at locations in the southern hemisphere. It is usually assessed by the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). This study aimed to evaluate, through on-line questionnaire, the hypothesis that, in the Brazilian population, latitude and longitude influence SPAQ scores. Methods: An advertisement was posted on a sleep medicine website inviting visitors to investigate seasonal patterns of behavior and mood, using a Brazilian Portuguese version of the SPAQ. The geographic coordinates of the place of residence of each respondent were analyzed as a continuous variable or distributed in quartiles of latitude and longitude. The psychometric properties of the SPAQ were assessed by reliability and factor analyses. Results: Answers from 1001 respondents out of 1045 were considered eligible. High SPAQ scores were observed in 287 respondents, equally distributed among all latitude and longitude quartiles. Data collected in different seasons and during daylight saving time did not differ significantly in any of the scores for SPAQ dimensions. No correlations between SPAQ scores and latitude or longitude were observed. Psychometric properties of the SPAQ were preserved in all geographic locations. Conclusion: The finding of similar SPAQ scores at a wide latitude range defies the concept of SAD symptoms as latitude or longitude-dependent phenomena.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…SAD has been attributed to lack of natural light in the winter at high latitudes, since a correlation between latitude and prevalence of SAD has been Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire in Brazil reported 10,11 . However, there are data in disagreement with this assumption 12,13 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Scores of a web-based version of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire in Brazil

Martinez¹,

Silva²,

Cassol³

et al. 2015

cbr

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“…Moreover, one would expect a higher prevalence of sufferers of SAD at higher latitudes [14,23,24]. There seems to be less correlation between prevalence rates of SAD and latitude than expected [25,26], and other factors like climate, genetic vulnerability and socio–cultural context may play a more important role [27]. Saarijarvi et al [28] found that the prevalence of overall and winter SAD did not differ between Finns living in northern and south-western Finland and that winter SAD was less frequent among the Sami.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there a negative impact of winter on mental distress and sleeping problems in the subarctic: The Tromsø Study

2012

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BackgroundPrior studies have suggested that the darkness of winter impacts the level of mental distress and sleeping problems. Our study investigated whether people living in the sub-arctic had more sleeping problems or mental distress during winter.MethodsThe cross sectional population Tromsø Study was conducted in Tromsø, North Norway, at 69.4 degrees North and above the Arctic Circle. The study included entire birth cohorts and random samples of the population aged 30 to 87 years. Data was collected continuously from 1 October 2007 to the end of December 2008 except July. 8951 persons completed questionnaires including the HSCL-10 and the MCTQ.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the reporting of current mental distress depending on season. Significantly more reported current sleeping problems in winter than in the other seasons, and less sleeping problems was found in spring.ConclusionsIn this sub-arctic population, insomnia was most prevalent in winter, but there were no significant seasonal differences in mental distress. Although some people in the sub-arctic clearly are mentally negatively affected by the darkness of winter, the negative impact of winter on mental distress for the adult population is not conclusive.

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“…Psychosocial factors were also suggested to have an impact on seasonality [19,20]. Among geographic factors, latitude has been most widely studied, although recent studies consistently reported that it might have a minimal effect on the seasonality [17,21,22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence, behavioral manifestations and associated individual and climatic factors of seasonality in the Korean general population

Baek

Kim

Huh

et al. 2015

Comprehensive Psychiatry

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Seasonal affective disorder and latitude of living

Cited by 12 publications

References 28 publications

Scores of a web-based version of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire in Brazil

Scores of a web-based version of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire in Brazil

Is there a negative impact of winter on mental distress and sleeping problems in the subarctic: The Tromsø Study

Prevalence, behavioral manifestations and associated individual and climatic factors of seasonality in the Korean general population

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