No abstract available.
Seasonal Affective Disorder* ; Seasons*

The authors identified a patient with typical seasonal affective disorder, characterized by recurrent depression in the winter with remission in the spring or summer. Many studies reported that bright light therapy was effective in seasonal affective disorder, but the mechanism of bright light therapy and the therapeutic parameters of light therapy including intensity, duration, timing are still debated. We treated the patient with morning light treatment using 2500lux light box, the clinical symptoms in this case were improved. The authors suggest that seasonal affective disorder can be effectively treated with morning light treatment.
Depression ; Humans ; Phototherapy ; Seasonal Affective Disorder ; Seasons*

The light therapy has been known to be effective to non-seasonal affective disorder as well as seasonal affective disorder. Although the mechanism of action of light therapy for depressive disorder has not been verified yet, its clinical application revealed similar effects like antidepressants and relatively smaller side effects. However, it is not common to apply the light therapy for treatment resistant depressive disorder. This case report indicates a robust efficacy of light therapy and its clinical usefulness, illustrating the complete remission in a treatment resistant patient with major depressive disorder after bright light therapy.
Antidepressive Agents ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Humans ; Mood Disorders ; Phototherapy* ; Seasonal Affective Disorder

Circadian rhythms have been observed to be disturbed in mood disorders, especially seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Clock related gene variants also have been suggested to be associated with seasonality (seasonal variations in mood and behavior). This study tested the potential association between a length polymorphism of Period3 gene and seasonal variations in mood and behavior. 297 Korean college students were genotyped for the Period3 polymorphism and were for evaluated the seasonal variation by Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). The genotype frequencies were 0.76 for 4R/4R, 0.22 for 4R/5R and 0.013 for 5R/5R. The global seasonality score was not different among Period3 gene variants (4R/4R, 4R/5R and 5R/5R) except for 'sleep length' subscore. The 5R/5R genotype showed the higher 'sleep length' subscore than others (p=0.024). The comparison between seasonals (syndromal plus subsyndromal SAD determined by SPAQ) and non-seasonals did not show any significant difference in frequencies of genotypes. These findings suggest that there is a possibility that the investigated Period3 polymorphism may play a partial role in the susceptibility of seasonal variations in a Korean population.
Circadian Rhythm ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mood Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasonal Affective Disorder ; Seasons*

OBJECTIVES: Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) is characterized by difficulties in falling asleep and waking up at a desired time. Dawn simulation is a technique using a light that gradually increases in intensity before awakening in the morning, to imitate a natural sunrise. It has been found to be effective in decreasing both morning drowsiness and difficulty in awakening as well as treating symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. The aim of this study was to determine whether dawn simulation is helpful in decreasing difficulty in morning awakening and daytime sleepiness in adolescents with DSPS. METHODS: Twelve adolescents with DSPS participated in a 2-week dawn simulation trial. Each subject self-assessed level of difficulty in awakening, morning drowsiness and daytime sleepiness during a 2-week baseline period and a following 2-week trial period with dawn simulator. Subjects used Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) for measuring morning drowsiness and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for measuring daytime sleepiness. Difficulty in awakening was assessed by a single-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Dawn simulation trial decreased morning drowsiness (p=0.016) and daytime sleepiness (p=0.013) significantly compared to baseline. It also seemed to improve difficulty in awakening, but the effect was not statistically significant (p=0.092). CONCLUSION: Dawn simulation may help waking up in the morning and may improve daytime functioning by deceasing both morning drowsiness and daytime sleepiness in adolescents with DSPS.
Adolescent* ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasonal Affective Disorder ; Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm* ; Sleep Stages

The secretion of melatonin exhibits a circadian rhythm entrained with the sleep-wake cycle. An alteration of this secretory rhythm has been found in various psychiatric disorders. This review summarizes the regulation of melatonin and its relationship to the circadian rhythm, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, Alzheimer's disease and autism. The review also looks at the effect of melatonin and melatonin agonist on sleep and symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder. In Alzheimer's disease, the circadian rhythm alterations are associated with the change of melatonin levels and melatonin receptors. It has been reported that melatonin and melatonin synthetic enzyme levels decrease in autism spectrum disorder.
Alzheimer Disease ; Autistic Disorder ; Bipolar Disorder ; Child ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Circadian Rhythm ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Melatonin* ; Receptors, Melatonin ; Seasonal Affective Disorder

OBJECTIVES: Although many reports have been written on seasonal variations in mood and behavior in foreign countries, few reports have dealt with Korean adolescents, except medical students. The goal of this study was to estimate the frequency of seasonal variations in mood and behavior among Korean high school students. METHODS: A total of 656 high school students living in southeastern Seoul participated in this study. The subjects were investigated with the Korean translated version of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), and their responses were evaluated for seasonal patterns in mood and behavior change according to Kasper's criteria to make SAD (seasonal affective disorder) or SSAD (subclinical seasonal affective disorder) diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 565 subjects completed the questionnaire and the responses (M: F=324: 241) were collected and used for analysis. The mean age was 16.73 (SD=0.65) years, and mean global seasonality score 5.88 (SD=4.72). Of the respondents, 413 (73.1%) reported problems related with seasonal changes. Total prevalence rates were 13.6% for SAD, 10.8% for S-SAD. The estimated frequencies were 5.1% for summer SAD, 3.2% for summer S-SAD, 0.5% for winter SAD and 1.1% for winter S-SAD. The prevalence rate of summer SAD or S-SAD was higher than winter SAD or S-SAD. CONCLUSION: The subjects showed a higher prevalence rate of summer type than winter type in SAD or S-SAD. These results were similar to those of other studies carried out in East Asian countries. However, the unpleasant feelings resulting from high temperature and humidity in summer rather than depression may have influenced the results. Therefore, it is necessary to make new SAD criteria of the SPAQ suitable for East Asian countries.
Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Humidity ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasonal Affective Disorder ; Seasons* ; Seoul ; Students, Medical

OBJECTIVES: Although many studies on seasonal variations in mood and behavior have been carried out in foreign countries, no such study has previously been undertaken in Korea. The goal of this study was to estimate the frequency of seasonal variations in mood and behavior among Korean medical students. METHODS: 297 medical students from Korea University College of Medicine participated in this study. The subjects were surveyed with a Korean translation of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), and their responses were evaluated for seasonal patterns of mood and behavioral change, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder (S-SAD), derived from the case-finding criteria of Kasper et al. RESULTS: The mean global seasonality score was 6.6 (SD=3.6). 83.5% (N=248) of the subjects reported some changes in behavior and mood associated with the seasons. Only 3.7% (N=11) reported no behavioral changes across the seasons. Total prevalence rates were 15.2% for SAD, and 2.7% for S-SAD. The estimated frequencies were 3.0% for summer SAD, 2.7% for summer S-SAD, 11.4% for winter SAD, and 5.8% for winter S-SAD. The prevalence rates for winter SAD or S-SAD were higher than the prevalence rates for summer SAD or S-SAD. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that seasonal variations in mood and behavior are common among Koreans. The higher prevalence rate of winter SAD or S-SAD than summer SAD or S-SAD is consistent with most western studies and stands in contrasts to studies in other Asian countries, such as Japan and China.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasonal Affective Disorder ; Seasons* ; Students, Medical*

OBJECTIVE: Seasonal affective disorder and seasonal changes in mood and behavior are associated with several genes that regulate circadian rhythms. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the C825T polymorphism of the G-protein β3 subunit and seasonal variations in mood and behavior in a young healthy Korean population. METHODS: A total of 507 young Korean participants were recruited through a newspaper advertisement, and their seasonality was evaluated by the Korean version of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire to assess the global seasonality score (GSS). We analyzed the CC, CT, and TT genotypes and their association with the GSS score and subscales. RESULTS: T allele carriers of the GNB3 C825T polymorphism were more likely to score higher on body weight and GSS. In the female group, the T allele carriers obtained significantly high total GSS and its subscale scores for mood, body weight, energy level, and appetite; however, differences in genotypes and allele carriers were also observed in the male participants. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that GNB3 C825T polymorphism plays a role in seasonal variations in mood, body weight, energy level, and appetite in a Korean population, particularly in females.
Alleles ; Appetite ; Body Weight ; Circadian Rhythm ; Female ; Genotype ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Humans ; Male ; Seasonal Affective Disorder ; Seasons

OBJECTIVES: Several evidence has been suggested that the circadian gene variants contribute to the pathogenesis of seasonal affective disorder. In this study, we aimed to investigate the polymorphism in RORA (Retinoid-related orphan receptor A) gene in relation to seasonal variations among healthy young adults in Seoul, Korea. METHODS: A total of 507 young healthy adult subjects were recruited by advertisement. Seasonal variations were assessed by the Seasonality Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Single-nucleotide polymorphism in the RORA rs11071547 gene was genotyped by PCR in 507 individuals. Considering summer type as confounding factor, we conducted analysis 478 subjects except 29 subjects of summer type. The Chi-square test was conducted to compare differences between groups of seasonals and non-seasonals. Association between genotypes and Global Seasonality Score (GSS) were tested using ANCOVA (Analysis of covariance). RESULTS: In this sample, the prevalence of SAD was 12.1% (winter type 9.3%, summer type 2.8%). There is no significant difference in genotyping distribution of RORA rs11071547 between groups of seasonals and non-seasonals. Global seasonality score (GSS) and scores of all subscales except body weight and appetite were not significantly different between the group with C allele homozygote and the group with T allele homozygote and heterozygote (p-value 0.138). Scores of body weight and appetite were significantly higher in group with C allele homozygotes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RORA gene polymorphism play a role in seasonal variations in appetite and body weight and is associated with susceptibility to seasonal affective disorder in some degree in the population studied.
Adult ; Alleles ; Appetite ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child, Orphaned ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasonal Affective Disorder ; Seasons* ; Seoul ; Young Adult