Evaluation of seasonality in six clinical populations and two normal populations

Abstract

The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) was used to evaluate retrospectively self-reported seasonal changes in mood and behavior (seasonality) of two normal and six clinical populations: patients with winter-seasonal affective disorder (SAD), summer-SAD, eating disorders, bipolar affective disorder, major depressive disorder and subsyndromal winter-SAD. The SPAQ successfully discriminated between groups expected to have high seasonality scores, such as winter-SAD, summer-SAD and subsyndromal winter-SAD, and normal controls. Bipolars and major depressives had normal seasonality scores. Patients with eating disorders had unexpectedly high scores. There was a general tendency for all groups to eat and sleep more and to gain weight in the winter. The implications of these findings are discussed.