THE INFLUENCE OF COMORBID DISORDERS AND OF CONTINUATION LIGHT TREATMENT ON REMISSION AND RECURRENCE IN WINTER DEPRESSION

The objectives of this prospective study were to investigate the influ ence of comorbid disorders and that of continuation light treatment on remission rates and on a subsequent onset of a depressive episode in outpatients (n = 20) with winter depression. The effects of light trea tment were evaluated by the structured clinical interviews and by the self-ratings of mood scored monthly for a follow-up period of 1 year. The remission rates of the patients (n = 8) who proceeded light treatm ent until the late winter were nor significantly different from those of the patients (n = 6) who stopped treatment early during the winter. A more extensive variation in the rates during the year was observed in the former group of patients among whom the comorbid avoidant perso nality was more frequent, indicating an increased risk of an earlier o nset of a depressive episode.