EPIDEMIOLOGY OF RECURRENT MAJOR AND MINOR DEPRESSION WITH A SEASONAL PATTERN - THE NATIONAL COMORBIDITY SURVEY

Background Previous estimates of the prevalence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in community samples have been in the range 2-10%, usin g methods not derived from DSM algorithms. We report the first communi ty-based study to estimate major and minor depression with a seasonal pattern in a community-based sample using a diagnostic instrument deri ved from DSM-III-R. Method A modified version of the Composite Interna tional Diagnostic Interview was administered to 8098 subjects in the 4 8 coterminous states of the USA (the National Comorbidity Survey) to a ssess the prevalence of major and minor depression with a seasonal pat tern. Results The lifetime prevalence of major depression with a seaso nal pattern was 0.4%, and the prevalence of major or minor depression with a seasonal pattern was 1.0%. Among respondents with major depress ion, male gender and older age were associated with a higher prevalenc e with a seasonal pattern. Conclusions Prevalence estimates of major a nd minor depression with a seasonal pattern are much lower than those found in previous studies of SAD in the community, probably due to the approach to diagnosis used in the present study, which more accuratel y represents DSM-III-R criteria for major depression with a seasonal p attern. The distribution of the disorder is similar to that found in p revious studies except for the higher prevalence among males.