Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2010 Aug;17(3):153-160.

Seasonal Changes in Mood and Behavior and Associated Factors of Seasonality in Korean Bipolar Disorder Patients and Normal Controls

• Choi J
• Baek JH
• Kim JS
• Choi JS
• Noh J
• Nam HJ
• Lee D
• Hong KS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Recurrence of mood episodes associated with a specific season has been described in various mood disorders. Seasonal change in mood and behavior as a lifetime trait is also observed in healthy individuals. This study aimed at comparing the lifetime trait of seasonal variations of mood and behavior between bipolar disorder patients and controls as well as investigating associated factors of seasonality.
METHODS
Subjects were ninety-four clinically stable patients with bipolar disorder and 188 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Seasonality of mood and behavior was assessed retrospectively on lifetime basis using Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire(SPAQ).
RESULTS
The patient group showed a higher median global seasonality score(GSS) of SPAQ and a higher rate of seasonal affective disorder(SAD) compared to the control group(p < 0.0001). For subjects showing prominent seasonality, the seasonal symptom profile and seasonal pattern was similar in both patient and control groups. In addition to the diagnosis, female gender was shown to be a predictor of seasonality in the multiple linear regression analysis(p = 0.045).
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that lifetime trait of seasonality may be related to the susceptibility of bipolar disorder.

Keyword

Seasonality; Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ); Bipolar disorder; Associated factors

MeSH Terms

Bipolar Disorder
Female
Humans
Linear Models
Mood Disorders
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Seasons