Onset of depressive episodes in a woman with seasonal affective disorder of "spring type" coincident with atmospheric temperature, but not with sunshine duration.

Abstract

This is a report on the clinical symptoms and the longitudinal course in a woman with seasonal affective disorder of "spring type." The woman experienced 10 atypical depressive episodes between the ages of 44 and 55. Nine of the 10 depressive episodes were confirmed by the medical chart, and were classified into three categories: two episodes with a psychological stressor, six episodes with the onset in February or March, and an episode starting in August. The onset of the six episodes did coincide with the time the atmospheric temperature rose to 8 degrees Centigrade in spring, but did not relate with the sunshine duration. These findings suggest that the change in atmospheric temperature played an important role in triggering off her depressive episodes.