Hostname: page-component-6b989bf9dc-g5k2d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-09T12:29:43.406Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Epidemiology of recurrent major and minor depression with a seasonal pattern

The National Comorbidity Survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Dan G. Blazer*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina
Ronald C. Kessler
Affiliation:
Institute for Social Research/Survey Research Center, Department of Sociology The University of Michigan
Marvin S. Swartz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
*
Dan G. Blazer, J. R. Gibbons Professor of Psychiatry, Dean of Medical Education. Duke University Medical Center. Box 3005. Durham. NC 27710

Abstract

Background

Previous estimates of the prevalence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in community samples have been in the range 2–10%, using methods not derived from DSM algorithms. We report the first community-based study to estimate major and minor depression with a seasonal pattern in a community-based sample using a diagnostic instrument derived from DSM–III–R.

Method

A modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was administered to 8098 subjects in the 48 coterminous states of the USA (the National Comorbidity Survey) to assess the prevalence of major and minor depression with a seasonal pattern.

Results

The lifetime prevalence of major depression with a seasonal pattern was 0.4%, and the prevalence of major or minor depression with a seasonal pattern was 1.0%. Among respondents with major depression, male gender and older age were associated with a higher prevalence with a seasonal pattern.

Conclusions

Prevalence estimates of major and minor depression with a seasonal pattern are much lower than those found in previous studies of SAD in the community probably due to the approach to diagnosis used in the present study which more accurately represents DSM–III–R criteria for major depression with a seasonal pattern. The distribution of the disorder is similar to that found in previous studies except for the higher prevalence among males.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association (1987) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edn, revised) (DSM–III–R). Washington, DC: APA.Google Scholar
American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn) (DSM–IV). Washington. DC: APA.Google Scholar
Blazer, D. G. Kessler, R. C. & McGonagle, K. A. (1994) The prevalence and distribution of major depression in a national community sample: The National Comorbidity Study American Journal of Psychiatry, 151, 979986.Google Scholar
Booker, J. M. & Hellelcson, C. J. (1992) Prevalence of seasonal affective disorder in Alaska. American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 11761182 Google ScholarPubMed
Kalton, G. (1983) Compensating for Missing Survey Data. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research.Google Scholar
Kasper, S. Wehr, T. A. & Bartko, J. J. (1989) Epidemiological findings of seasonal changes in mood and behavior: a telephone survey of Montgomery County Maryland. Archives of General Psychiatry, 46, 823833.Google Scholar
Kessler, R. C. Dehongis, A. Haskett, R. F. et al (1998) Late luteal phase dysphoria disorder in a community sample of married women. In Research in Community and Mental Health (ed. Leaf, P.). Greenwich. CT: JAL Press, in press.Google Scholar
Ozaki, N. Onoy, I. A. & Rosenthal, N. E. (1995) Prevalence of seasonal difficulties in mood and behavior among Japanese civil servants. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 12251227.Google ScholarPubMed
Partonen, T. Partinen, M. & Lonnqvist, J. (1993) Frequencies of seasonal major depressive symptoms at high latitudes. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 243, 189192.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosen, L. N. Targum, S. D. Terman, M. et al (1990) Prevalence of seasonal affective disorders at four latitudes. Psychiatry Research, 31, 131144.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosenthal, N. E. Sack, D. A. Gillin, J. C. et al (1984) Seasonal affective disorder: a description of the syndrome in preliminary findings with light therapy Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 7280.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosenthal, N. E. Genhart, M. Sack, D. A. et al (1987) Seasonal affective disorder: relevance for treatment and research in bulimia. In Psychobiology of Bulimia (eds Hudson, J. I. & Pope, H. G.). Washington. DC: American Psychiatric Press.Google Scholar
Sakamoto, K. Kamo, T. Nakadaira, S. et al (1993) A nation-wide survey of seasonal disorder at 53 outpatient university clinics in Japan. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 87, 258265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schlager, D. Schwartz, J. E. & Brommet, E. J. (1993) Seasonal variations of current symptoms in a healthy population. British Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 322326.Google Scholar
Weicki, W. Angst, J. & Merikangas, K. R. (1992) The Zurich study IV. Epidemiology of seasonal depression. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 241, 301306.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.