LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF DEPRESSION IN SEASONAL AFFECTIVE-DISORDER

Twenty-six patients diagnosed as having seasonal affective disorder (S AD) completed weekly depression self-ratings for at least 2.5 and up t o 8.25 years. Seasonal recurrence of depression persisted in nine pati ents, seven remitted, four were chronically depressed, and six showed a diffuse pattern. The age at SAD onset and duration of SAD history be fore entry into this prospective study could not be identified as pred ictors of the subsequent course of the disease. Short-lasting, recurre nt periods of depression could be identified in many of the long-term records. They were found primarily in autumn and winter in patients wi th either a persistent seasonal or a remitted pattern. In the core gro up of patients with persistent seasonal pattern, the onset and offset of depressive periods (DPs) were more variable than the DSM-III-R 60-d ay window criterion for seasonal pattern allows.