Seasonality in Major Depressive Disorder: Effect of Sex and Age.

J Affect Disord

Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Published: January 2022

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study investigates the presence of a seasonal pattern in major depressive disorder (MDD) across a 14-year period in Austria, revealing a significant variation in hospitalization rates based on the seasons.
  • Results showed that both men and women had fewer admissions during summer and December for moderate to severe MDD, while women specifically exhibited a seasonal pattern for psychotic depression.
  • It also found that patients over 55 experienced a reduced seasonal pattern, suggesting that age influences the severity of MDD symptoms associated with seasonal changes.

Article Abstract

Background: Aside from the concept of seasonal affective disorder, the evidence for a seasonal pattern (SP) of major depressive disorder (MDD) is controversial. Furthermore, the effect of sex and age is still unclear.

Methods: This is a nationwide, registry-based study assessing all inpatient admissions in mental health hospitals due to MDD episodes according to ICD-10 (moderate (F32/33.1), severe (F32/33.2) and severe with psychotic features (F32/33.3)) in Austria across 14 years. Calculations were based on deviations from expected monthly admissions.

Results: The sample comprised 231,824 hospitalisations (36.8% men) for MDD. A significant SP (p=0.001) in moderate and severe depressive episodes in both women and men with decreased admission rates in the summer months and December was detected. In psychotic depression a significant SP was only evidenced in women (p = 0.002, men: p = 0.291). Patients older than 55 years had a reduced SP compared to those being younger.

Limitations: Only anonymised admission data of inpatient treatments were available. Hospitalization rates cannot fully be equated to the occurrence of MDD.

Conclusions: The current study indicates a seasonal variation in MDD symptoms that may go beyond seasonal affective disorder. Knowledge about the predictability of depressive symptoms in patients should encourage preventive strategies.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.051DOI Listing

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