Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire Research Articles

Seasonal variation in mood among individuals with and without bipolar disorder

IntroductionBipolar disorder is a disorder characterized by cyclic changes in mood, yet limited research has explored longitudinal patterns of seasonality on mood symptoms in this population. This study aimed to examine longitudinal mood symptoms in individuals with bipolar type I and II, and healthy controls to determine if seasonal patterns were present and to validate the Global Seasonality Score as a measure of seasonality. MethodsParticipants from the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder were included. Seasonal variations in mood were determined from the Patient Health Questionnaire, Altman Self-Rating Mania scale, and the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire. Mixed effects models were utilized to examine the effects of season and diagnostic group on patterns of mood over time. ResultsAll groups exhibited significant seasonal effects on mood symptoms, with evidence of decreased depressive symptoms and increased mania symptoms in longer daylight months. The Global Seasonality Score showed significant differences between diagnostic groups, with bipolar I and II groups demonstrating higher seasonality than healthy controls. High seasonality was associated with greater variance in mood symptoms. ConclusionThe present study found evidence of seasonal patterns in mood symptoms in individuals with bipolar type I and II. These results highlight the need for consideration of seasonality in assessment and treatment in bipolar disorder and suggest that interventions such as light therapy during seasons of heightened risk could be beneficial. The validation of the Global Seasonality Score as a reliable measure further underscores the benefit of utilizing self-report measures to identify periods of vulnerability.

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN PESHAWAR DISTRICT

The current study was conducted to identify the impact of seasonal affective disorder on the academic lives of undergraduate students in the Peshawar district. SAD is defined as "seasonal depression" that is brought on by a particular season's depressive episodes as well as other symptoms, especially during the winter. The sample size consisted of 100 undergraduate students from different universities in Peshawar (N = 100). Their ages ranged from 18 to 26 years old. The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) along with a demographic and informed consent sheet was administered. Statistical analysis revealed that among 100 participants, 71 were affected by SAD. Further on, it was elaborated that female students have high rates of SAD as compared to male students. The present study has a high value of significance (10.928). The results of the study supported the proposed hypotheses and confirmed the impact of seasonal affective disorder on the academic performance of undergraduate students while having a large female population. Depression is a recurrent and serious medical condition that negatively affects moods, how you see the world, and how you behave. It is the illness that drives feelings of dissatisfaction in one's actions. Students' cognitions are affected, which negatively affects their grades. They are unable to manage their everyday activities. Exercise, a balanced diet, and psychiatric treatments should also be employed as part of a treatment plan for symptoms.

Adaptation and Validation of the Meteoropathy Questionnaire to the Turkish Sample

The present study aimed to adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Meteoropathy Scale (METEO-Q) for the Turkish population. Furthermore, it aims to suppress some limitations of the original study by examining construct validity and test-retest reliability, and associations between certain variables. A total of 603 participants (M=34,92, SD=13,57) were recruited. METEO-Q, Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), and sociodemographic form were utilized to collect data. To test the construct validity, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were carried out. The exploratory factor analysis result pointed out the presence of a two-factor structure. Two-factor structure exhibited a reasonable model fit in the confirmatory factor analysis. The two factors (meteorosensitivity and meteoropathy), structured checklist and, total score of METEO-Q indicated good reliability (α = .86, .88, .95, .93, respectively). Test-retest reliability scores demonstrated good reliability. The METEO-Q score was positively associated with SPAQ, gender, self-mutilation, and suicidal behaviors. In conclusion, the Turkish version of METEO-Q provides a valid and reliable measurement tool for the general population.

The role of affective temperaments as a factor of vulnerability to seasonal affective disorder

BackgroundGrowing evidence suggests the relevance of affective temperaments in the development of mood disorders. This study aims to assess their potential role as a vulnerability factor for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and subsyndromal SAD (S-SAD) in a sample of young individuals without a history of clinical diagnosis. MethodsEight hundred and forty-six university students were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Participants were evaluated for exclusion and inclusion criteria and divided into Control, S-SAD, and SAD groups. They filled out two self-administered questionnaires to assess the degree of seasonality problems and the predominant type of affective temperaments, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), and the Temperament Evaluation Instrument of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Auto-questionnaire version scale (briefTEMPS-M version). We conducted a multinomial logistic regression model to explore the relationship between affective temperaments and seasonality. ResultsOur results evidenced that cyclothymic [χ2 (2) = 33.486, p < 0.001] and anxious [χ2 (2) = 86.991, p < 0.001] temperaments were significant predictors in the model, suggesting that individuals with cyclothymic and anxious temperaments are at increased risk of developing SAD, due to heightened seasonal changes in mood and behavior. In contrast, people with hyperthymic temperament appear less susceptible to experiencing seasonal problems. LimitationsThe homogeneity of the sample; only retrospective self-reported data were considered; measures of temperament and seasonality were simultaneously assessed. ConclusionsUnderstanding which affective temperaments may constitute a potential predisposing factor for vulnerability to seasonal changes can aid in better assessing SAD and predicting its outcome.

Seasonal patterns in Chinese population: Validating the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire and exploring associations with psychiatric diagnoses and biological rhythms

ABSTRACT Seasonal patterns (SP) exert a notable influence on the course and prognosis of patients with affective disorders, serving as a specifier in diagnosis. However, there is limited exploration of seasonality among psychotic patients, and the distinctions in seasonality among psychiatric patients remain unclear. In this study, we enrolled 198 psychiatric patients with anxiety and depressive disorders (A&D), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ), as well as healthy college students. Online questionnaires, including the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) for seasonality, the Morningness and Eveningness Questionnaire-5 (MEQ-5) for chronotypes, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), were administered. The validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the SPAQ were thoroughly analyzed, revealing a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.896 with a two-factor structure. Results indicated that higher seasonality was correlated with poorer sleep quality and a more delayed chronotype (p < 0.05). Significant monthly variations were particularly evident in BD, specifically in mood, appetite, weight, social activities, and sleep dimensions (p < 0.001). In summary, the Chinese version of SPAQ is validated, demonstrating moderate correlations between seasonality, chronotype, and sleep quality. BD patients exhibited the strongest seasonality, while mood disorder patients displayed more delayed chronotypes than SZ.

Emotional Bias among Individuals at Risk for Seasonal Affective Disorder-An EEG Study during Remission in Summer.

Emotional bias in attention and memory is well researched in depression. Patients with depression prioritize processing of negative information over positive input. While there is evidence that emotional bias exists in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during winter, it is unclear whether such altered cognition exists also during summer. Moreover, it is unclear whether such bias affects attention, memory, or both. In this study, we investigated 110 individuals in summer, 34 of whom reported suffering from low mood during winter, according to the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire. While the electroencephalogram was recorded, participants learned 60 emotional pictures and subsequently were asked to recognize them in an old/new task. There were no clear group differences in behavioral measures, and no brain response differences in frontal alpha power during learning. During recognition, at 100-300 ms post stimulus individuals with higher seasonality scores exhibited larger alpha power in response to negative as compared to neutral stimuli, while individuals with low seasonality scores exhibited larger alpha power in response to positive as compared to neutral stimuli. While we cannot draw conclusions whether this is an effect of attention or memory, the finding suggests that early cognitive processes are altered already during summer in individuals with increased likelihood to experience SAD during winter. Our data provide evidence for an all-year-round cognitive vulnerability in this population.

The Relationship Among Seasonality, Night Eating, and Chronotype in Bipolar Disorder: Exploring the Mediating Role of Sleep Quality.

The purpose of the study was to explore the association among chronotype, seasonality, sleep quality, and night eating syndrome (NES) among patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and the mediating role of sleep quality in this relationship. Ninety-two individuals with BD type 1 who had been euthymic for at least 8 weeks and 87 healthy controls were included. In addition to sociodemographic/clinical data, chronotype, seasonality, sleep quality, and NES were evaluated using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Night Eating Questionnaire. The prevalence of NES (17.4%) was higher among BD than the controls. BD patients with NES had poorer sleep quality, greater seasonality, and lower MEQ scores. Chronotype had an indirect effect that was partially mediated by sleep quality on night eating symptoms in BD patients, in addition to a direct effect. Seasonality was found to have a direct effect on night eating symptoms. Therapeutic interventions that target both sleep and circadian disruption should be implemented when addressing NES in patients with BD.

Circadian Rhythms and Depression in Adolescents: A Comparative Analysis of First Episode and Recurrent-Episode Groups.

Circadian rhythm disruptions are a hallmark feature of mood disorders. Patients experiencing acute depressive episodes report noticeable changes in their sleep-wake cycles. This research explains the association between depression and various circadian rhythm metrics, explicitly focusing on adolescents diagnosed with depressive disorders. Adolescence is a critical period marked by significant physiological and psychological changes, making it imperative to understand how mood disorders manifest during this phase. However, there have been minimal specific studies in pediatric populations to determine whether circadian rhythm changes differ between adolescents with first and multiple-recurrent depressive episodes. Our study involved a group of 61 adolescents aged between 13 and 18. We performed a cross-sectional study of a clinical population of patients presenting to a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic diagnosed with depression. Participants were asked to complete self-report evaluations using several tools: the Korean version of the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (K-BRIAN), the Korean Translation of Composite Scale to Measure Morningness-Eveningness (KtCS), and the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Tools such as the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and K-Mood Disorder Questionnaire (K-MDQ) were employed for the assessment of clinical characteristics of depression. Based on the frequency of their depressive episodes, participants were bifurcated into two distinct groups: those experiencing their first episode (n = 22, mean age: 15.09 ± 1.44 years) and those with recurrent episodes (n = 39, mean age: 15.95 ± 1.26 years). At first, the two groups' data revealed no significant differences regarding mood or circadian rhythm metrics (CDI: first episode 26.18 ± 10.54 and recurrent episode 25.90 ± 10.59, STAI-S: first episode 56.91 ± 12.12 and recurrent episode 57.49 ± 11.93, STAI-T: first episode 60.36 ± 11.63 and recurrent episode 59.09 ± 12.10, SPAQ-total: first episode 6.59 ± 4.86 and recurrent episode 6.77 ± 5.23, KtCS: first episode 30.32 ± 5.83 and recurrent episode 28.13 ± 7.36). However, we observed significant correlations between circadian rhythm disruptions and depression scales (CDI with SPAQ-weight (r = 0.26), KtCS (r = -0.48), K-BRIAN-sleep (r = 0.58), K-BRIAN-activity (r = 0.64), K-BRIAN-social (r = 0.71), and K-BRIAN-eating (r = 0.40)). These correlations were especially pronounced in the recurrent episode group, suggesting that with the progression and chronicity of depression, the relationship between circadian rhythms and depression becomes more intertwined and evident. In conclusion, especially in adolescents, as the severity and chronicity of depression increase, the interplay between circadian rhythms and mood disorders becomes more pronounced, warranting further research and clinical attention.

Prevalence of seasonal affective disorder among primary health care attendees in eastern Riyadh-a cross-sectional study

Background: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of mood disorder, is defined by seasonal depressive symptoms that appear at a particular time of a year. Its burden in Saudi Arabia is poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with seasonal depression among attendees of primary health care centres (PHC) in Eastern Riyadh. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the PHC of Eastern Riyadh. We systematically sampled participants attending the PHCs the required sample size was achieved. We measured seasonal depression and beliefs using the validated seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire (SPAQ) and seasonal beliefs questionnaire. We presented the mean and standard deviation (SD) of scores obtained and used Student’s t test ANOVA test to compare differences across explanatory variables. We demonstrated internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha. Results: Among 232 participants, majority were aged 18-35 years (67.2%) and males (60.8%). The mean (SD) score on SPAQ was 1.00 (0.71) and that on the seasonal beliefs was 3.03 (0.69). With a cut-off of 11 on SPAQ, prevalence of SAD was found to be 33.5%. SPAQ score was significantly higher among younger ages, females, single/divorced, Saudis, those with secondary/lower level education and those who earn&lt;50,000 Saudi Riyals (p&lt;0.001). Seasonal beliefs score was significantly higher among younger ages (p=0.013) and Saudis (p=0.001). Both the scales used had high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.901 for SPAQ and 0.847 for seasonal beliefs questionnaire). Conclusions: SAD was a prevalent mental health issue among primary care attendees in Eastern Riyadh. Screening for such conditions at the primary level among high-risk groups should be considered by family physicians.

EEG-Correlates of Emotional Memory and Seasonal Symptoms

The aim of this study was to investigate a potential all-year vulnerability of people with seasonal mood fluctuations. We compared behavioral and neurophysiological responses to emotional stimuli in summer between people who report seasonal symptoms in winter and those who do not. EEG was recorded in summer from 119 participants while they memorized 60 emotional pictures, balanced for valence and arousal. The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire was used to determine seasonal symptoms. EEG power was analyzed in the alpha and gamma frequency bands and in early (50–150 ms) and late (300–400 ms) time-windows over frontal, temporal, and occipital sites. Positive pictures were more frequently recalled than negative and neutral pictures, and negative pictures were more frequently recalled than neutral pictures (p &lt; 0.001), but memory performance did not interact with seasonality. EEG power was overall higher in participants without elevated levels of seasonal symptoms (p = 0.043). This group difference interacted with emotional valence (p = 0.037), region of interest (p = 0.003), hemispheric differences (p = 0.027), frequency band (0.032), and time-window (0.018). This differential pattern of activation while viewing emotional pictures suggests a difference in emotional processing between the groups. The absence of behavioral effects but presence of differences in EEG activity suggests an all-year-long difference in processing of emotional contents in people who experience seasonal symptoms in winter.

Physical Activity, Seasonal Sensitivity and Psychological Well-Being of People of Different Age Groups Living in Extreme Environments.

Physical activity can prevent many organic and mental pathologies. For people living in extreme southern high-latitude environments, weather conditions can affect these activities, altering their psychological well-being and favoring the prevalence of seasonal sensitivity (SS). This study aims to determine the relationships between the practice of physical activity, seasonal sensitivity and well-being in people living in high southern latitudes. A cross-sectional study was conducted, using the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), applying a psychological well-being scale, and determining sports practice according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the 370 male (n = 209; 55%) and female (n = 173; 45%) participants. The main results indicated that 194 people (52 ± 7.7 years) reported physical activity. High-intensity physical activity practitioners recorded a significantly lower proportion of SS. In terms of psychological well-being, an adverse effect was found between the Seasonal Score Index (SSI) and five subcategories of the Ryff well-being scale. In conclusion, those who perform high-intensity physical activity have a lower SS, and those who have a higher SS have a lower psychological well-being.

No Association Between NPAS2 rs6425296 Polymorphism and Seasonality, Diurnal Preference in Koreans

Objective: Seasonal variations in mood and behavior and diurnal preference are associated with several genes that regulate circadian rhythms. In this study, we investigated the association of the &lt;i&gt;NPAS2&lt;/i&gt; rs6725296 polymorphism with seasonality and diurnal preference.Methods: A total of 510 healthy subjects were genotyped for the &lt;i&gt;NPAS2&lt;/i&gt; rs6725296 polymorphism and completed self-report questionnaires on seasonality and diurnal preferences. Seasonality was evaluated using the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire, and diurnal preference was evaluated using the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM). We assessed the association of genotype and allele carrier status with the total and subscale scores of global seasonality scores (GSS) for seasonality and the total and subscale scores of CSM for diurnal preference.Results: No significant associations were found between the &lt;i&gt;NPAS2&lt;/i&gt; rs6725296 genotype and the allele carrier status and the GSS and CSM scores.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the &lt;i&gt;NPAS2&lt;/i&gt; rs6725296 polymorphism may not contribute to seasonality and diurnal preference in healthy Koreans. More studies with a larger number of subjects, inclusion of different ethnic groups, and complementation with objective measurements of seasonality and diurnal preference are necessary to evaluate the influence of genetics on seasonality and diurnal preference.

EEG-responses to mood induction interact with seasonality and age.

The EEG is suggested as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). As a pre-clinical form of SAD, seasonality is operationalized as seasonal variation in mood, appetite, weight, sleep, energy, and socializing. Importantly, both EEG biomarkers and seasonality interact with age. Inducing sad mood to assess cognitive vulnerability was suggested to improve the predictive value of summer assessments for winter depression. However, no EEG studies have been conducted on induced sad mood in relation to seasonality, and no studies so far have controlled for age. We recorded EEG and calculated bandpower in 114 participants during rest and during induced sad mood in summer. Participants were grouped by age and based on a seasonality score as obtained with the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire (SPAQ). Participants with high seasonality scores showed significantly larger changes in EEG power from rest to sad mood induction, specifically in the alpha frequency range (p = 0.027), compared to participants with low seasonality scores. Furthermore, seasonality interacted significantly with age (p < 0.001), with lower activity in individuals with high seasonality scores that were older than 50 years but the opposite pattern in individuals up to 50 years. Effects of sad mood induction on brain activity are related to seasonality and can therefore be consider as potential predicting biomarkers for SAD. Future studies should control for age as a confounding factor, and more studies are needed to elaborate on the characteristics of EEG biomarkers in participants above 50 years.

Vision-Related Quality of Life and Seasonal Affective Disorder in Patients with Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by depressive episodes related to changes in the seasons. Patients with severe vision loss are at an increased risk of SAD. This study seeks to determine the extent to which patients with moderate vision loss report symptoms of SAD. In this cross-sectional, comparative case series, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) and the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-39) were used to screen 111 patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and/or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). A multiple regression analysis was performed to create a predictive model for SAD based on the Global Seasonality Score (GSS) using the VFQ-39. Subjects who reported symptoms of SAD (GSS > 8) had lower vision-related quality of life (composite score: 57.2 versus 73.2, p < 0.001). Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the items on the VFQ-39 split into two distinct dimensions that together accounted for 63.2% of the total variance in the GSS. One group of questions addressed vision-related problems; the other group comprised questions related to the quality of life. Whereas this model successfully identified patients with vision loss at risk of SAD, a model restricted to the questions available on the shorter, widely used VFQ-25 instrument did not reliably identify patients at risk of SAD.

Incidence rate and clinical characteristics of seasonal affective disorders in senior medical students

Aim. To study the incidence rate, clinical features, and prognosis of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in senior (6th-year) medical students.Materials and methods. SAD screening using the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ, 1987) included 119 undergraduate medical students. 78 students were females (65.5%) and 41 – males (34.5%) (p = 0.001). The average age of women was 23 (22; 23) years, the average age of men – 23 (22; 24) years. Statistical processing was performed using the Mann – Whitney U-test, Pearson’s χ2 test, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs).Results. The data on the prevalence of affective disorders with a seasonal pattern in medical students were obtained: SAD – 9.2%, sub-SAD – 13.5%, psychological undulation of season perception (PUSP) – 16.8%. The number of students who did not exhibit seasonal undulation of the six main characteristics recorded by the SPAQ was 72 (60.5%) (p = 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in the higher median Global Seasonality Score of the SPAQ for SAD compared with PUSP, both with and without account of the gender factor (p = 0.001). The use of a binary logistic regression model made it possible to identify groups of students with or without SAD according to the SPAQ. The data obtained determined the contribution of the following factors: gender, seasonality, body weight, and the number of sleep hours per day in spring.Conclusion. The study made it possible to obtain a logistic regression model that allowed to predict the greatest likelihood of developing SAD.

Running on Empty: Of Hypopinealism and Human Seasonality.

The pineal hormone melatonin is the natural transducer of the environmental light–dark signal to the body. Although the responsiveness to photoperiod is well-conserved in humans, only about 25 percent of the human population experiences seasonal changes in behavior. As a consequence, humans seem to have adapted—at least partly—to the seasonal changes in day length. The aim of the study was to demonstrate that the individual melatonin deficit marker DOC (degree of pineal calcification) is related to variation of seasonal phenomena in humans. Out of 3,011 patients in which cranial computer tomography (cCT) was performed for diagnostic reasons, 97 consecutive “healthy” subjects (43 female, 54 male; age 18–68 yrs, mean ± SD: 35.0 ± 13.1) were included. Exclusion criteria were pathological finding in cCT, acute/chronic illness including alcohol/drug abuse, shift work, and medication, which are known to influence melatonin excretion. The degree of pineal calcification (DOC) was semiquantitatively determined using the previously validated method. The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) was performed in a telephone interview. Twenty-six subjects fulfilled the criteria for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or subsyndromal (S) SAD. Seasonality was more pronounced in women than in men (SPAQ seasonality score: 7.8 ± 4.0 vs. 4.9 ± 4.5; p = 0.001) and negatively and significantly associated with age (r = −0.178; p = 0.04). The subjective sleep length significantly varied between seasons (one-way repeated measures ANOVA: F = 45.75; p < 0.0001), with sleep during winter being 53 min (±70 min) longer than during summer. Controlling for age, the total seasonality score was negatively and significantly associated with DOC (r94 = −0.214; p = 0.036). Data confirm earlier studies with respect to distribution of seasonality with sex and age. The survival of seasonality in the sleep length of people living in an urban environment underlines functionality of the circadian timing system in modern societies. Moreover, data confirm for the first time that diminished experience of seasonality in behavior is associated with a reduced individual capacity to produce melatonin.

Seasonal sensitivity and psychiatric morbidity: study about seasonal affective disorder

BackgroundSeasonal Affective Disorder is a recurrent depressive disorder which usually begins in the fall/winter and enters into remission in the spring/summer, although in some cases may occur in the summer with remission in the autumn-winter. In this study the authors evaluated the association between seasonal changes in mood and behavior with psychiatric disturbance.MethodDescriptive, cross-sectional study. Participants, students attending higher education and vocational courses (N = 324), were evaluated with the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) and the Screening Scale for Mental Health (ER80).ResultsAmong the respondents, 12.7% showed seasonal affective disorder (SAD), 29.0% showed subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder (s-SAD) and 58.3% did not show significant seasonal affective symptomatology. As for psychiatric morbidity, 36.6% of subjects with SAD and 13.8% of those with s-SAD were considered “psychiatric cases” whereas for subjects without SAD this value was only 3.2%.ConclusionsThere is a statistically significant association between psychiatric morbidity and seasonal affective disorder. This association corroborates the importance of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire in screening for seasonal fluctuations in mood and behavior related disorders, and the clinical need for recognition of these conditions, particularly associated suffering and disabilities.

For whom the circadian clock ticks? Investigation of PERIOD and CLOCK gene variants in bipolar disorder

ABSTRACT Clock genes play significant roles in the regulation of circadian rhythms, which are thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. We aimed to investigate the association of five gene polymorphisms (PER3 VNTR (rs57875989), PER2 rs2304672, CLOCK rs1801260, CLOCK rs10462028, CLOCK rs11932595) with PCR-based methods as potential risk factors in bipolar disorder (BD). We used a multiple testing methodology in BD patients (n = 121) and healthy control individuals (n = 121) of Turkish descent to analyze the effects of these gene variants both as risk factors for the disorder and for the evaluation of these variants in the patient group with multiple subscales. We evaluated the circadian rhythm disturbances and seasonal variations in mood and behavior in BD patients using the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN) and Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) to enlighten the possible links between these scores and the studied circadian gene variants. The results of our study revealed significant associations: PER3 VNTR (rs57875989) 5/5 repeat genotype displayed a protective effect against BD when compared with 4/4 repeat genotype. Moreover, patients with PER3 VNTR 5/5 repeat genotype displayed a higher ratio of hypomania. PER2 rs2304672 G allele frequency increased the risk for BD. There was no association in terms of genotype/allele frequency comparisons between patients and controls for CLOCK gene variants. However, significant associations were found in patients in terms of clinical and behavioral patterns such as mean age at disease onset and BRIAN total scores enabling some risk stratifications for patients. Our results indicate the significance of circadian gene variants in BD, which need to be confirmed in different studies with larger samples. Thus, the possible endophenotypes of BD can be enlightened and advanced chronotherapeutics approaches can be manipulated in the future for clinical benefit.

Validity and Usage of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) in a French Population of Patients with Depression, Bipolar Disorders and Controls.

The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), by Rosenthal et al. (1984), is by far the most used questionnaire to evaluate seasonal effects on mood and behavior. It includes a general seasonality score (GSS), composed of 6 items, from which cutoffs have been established to screen for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). However, it has never been validated in French and associations with circadian rhythm and symptoms of depression and bipolarity remain unclear. In this study, including 165 subjects (95 controls and 70 patients with depression or bipolar disorder), we confirmed the validity of the French version of the SPAQ, with a two-factor structure (a psychological factor: energy, mood, social activity and sleep length; and a food factor: weight and appetite) and a good fit was observed by all indicators. Mood and social activity dimensions were significantly affected by seasons in the depressed/bipolar group and a stronger global seasonality score (GSS) was associated with more severe phenotypes of depression and mania. Subjects meeting SAD and subsyndromal-SAD criteria also showed a delayed circadian rhythm compared to controls. Simple tools, such as the SPAQ, can aid the identification of significant seasonal changes and have direct implications on therapeutics including the use of bright light therapy in order to enhance personalized treatments, but also to prevent adverse seasonal effects.

Perfil estacional en adultos con rinitis alérgica en una unidad de medicina familiar

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objetivo:&lt;/strong&gt; analizar el perfil estacional de rinitis alérgica en pacientes adultos de 20 a 59 años. &lt;strong&gt;Métodos:&lt;/strong&gt; estudio transversal analítico realizado en la Unidad de Medicina Familiar No. 75 del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, se incluyeron 182 pacientes con rinitis alérgica (ra), mediante muestreo probabilístico aleatorio simple. Se aplicaron dos cuestionarios; el primero, basado en el &lt;em&gt;Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire&lt;/em&gt; (spaq)adaptado para rinitis alérgica y que describe características sintomatológicas y limitación de actividades diarias; el segundo consistió en la evaluación mediante el &lt;em&gt;Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma&lt;/em&gt; (aria) para la determinación de duración y severidad. El análisis estadístico inferencial se obtuvo mediante &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;χ&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;, con un nivel de significancia de p&amp;lt;0.05 y un intervalo de 95%. &lt;strong&gt;Resultados:&lt;/strong&gt; se observaron meses pico en la sintomatología, los cuales correspondieron a los meses de abril (17.58%), noviembre (26.92%) y diciembre (38.46%), existió una duración persistente en 26.4% de los casos y severidad leve en 36.8% de los adultos con ra; al aplicar la prueba de &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;χ&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; entre los meses con mayor pico de la sintomatología y el aria se obtuvo un valor p&amp;gt;0.05. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusiones:&lt;/strong&gt; el perfil estacional y la rinitis alérgica presentan dos picos, su sintomatología aumenta en primavera e invierno, se determinó mediante el aria que hubo una fracción importante de casos con duración persistente y severidad leve. Se requieren de medidas preventivas para el control médico y mejora en la calidad de vida.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;