Depression symptoms don’t vary between seasons

Researchers have found that depression symptoms do not vary between the changes of seasons. Senior author, Steven LoBello, said, “In conversations with colleagues, the belief in the association of seasonal changes with depression is more-or-less taken as a given and the same belief is widespread in our culture. We analyzed the data from many angles and found that the prevalence of depression is very stable across different latitudes, seasons of the year, and sunlight exposures.”

The findings came about when investigating seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – a form of depression which typically occurs in the winter months. In order to be diagnosed with SAD a patient must first meet the criteria for depression as well as experience reoccurring episodes which coincide with a specific season – with SAD it is fall/winter. These depressive symptoms must also alleviate by spring and summer.

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