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Seasonal affective disorder and latitude of living

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2011

Greta Brancaleoni ,
Elena Nikitenkova ,
Luigi Grassi  and
Vidje Hansen
Greta Brancaleoni
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø, and Psychiatric Department, University Hospital North (Norway)
Elena Nikitenkova
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø (Norway)
Luigi Grassi
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara (Italy)
Vidje Hansen*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø, and Psychiatric Department, University Hospital North (Norway)
*
Address fo correspondence: Dr. V. Hansen, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Psychiatric dep. UNN, PO box 6124, N-9291 Tromsø (Norway). Fax: +47-77-62.78 06, E-mail: vidje.hansen@unn.no
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Summary

Aim – Since the importance of latitude of living for the prevalence of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is unclear, the study aims to test the latitude hypothesis by comparing SAD in two rather similar groups of students living at latitudes far apart. Methods – Two groups of students, 199 in Tromsø, Norway (690 N) and 188 in Ferrara, Italy (440 N) were asked to fill in the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire. Results – Global Seasonality score (GS-score) was significantly higher in Italian than in Norwegian students, in females and in students with sleeping-problems. Norwegian students had significantly higher SAD prevalence in winter and in spring. Most people in both countries felt worst in October and November, and the prevalence of Autumn SAD was not significantly different between the two countries. Conclusions – The hypothesis that SAD is linked to amount of environmental light and latitude of living was not supported.

Declaration of Interest: The study was fully financed by the University of Tromsø and the University Hospital North Norway, and there are no conflicts of interests.

Keywords

seasonal affective disorderseasonal pattern assessment questionnaireprevalencelatitude
Type
Original Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , December 2009 , pp. 336 - 343
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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