Prevalence of seasonal affective disorder in primary care; a comparison of the seasonal health questionnaire and the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire.

Thompson, Chris; Thompson, Susan; Smith, Rachel

doi:10.1016/s0165-0327(02)00314-2

Cited by 46Circadian rhythm and melatoninBipolar Disorder and TreatmentAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Prevalence of seasonal affective disorder in primary care; a comparison of the seasonal health questionnaire and the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire.

Thompson, Chris, Thompson, Susan, Smith, Rachel·2004·Journal of Affective Disorders

DOI 10.1016/s0165-0327(02)00314-2

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Abstract

Background Prevalence rates of SAD suggested by previous studies have ranged from 1 to 12% depending on the diagnostic criteria used. The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), a widely used screening tool, has been shown to have low specificity for SAD. The Seasonal Health Questionnaire (SHQ) was designed to better reflect the clinical criteria for SAD and has been shown to have a higher specificity then the SPAQ in a psychiatric outpatient setting.Objective The current study was designed to assess the validity of the SHQ in general practice against systematic research interviews, to compare the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values of the SHQ and the SPAQ and to use these data to estimate the prevalence of SAD in primary care.Methods 809 subjects in a consecutive series of patients attending Southampton general practices in winter 2000/01 completed the SHQ followed by the SPAQ; 56 were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID).Results The SHQ was more sensitive and specific than the SPAQ and had higher positive and negative predictive values in screening for SAD. The SPAQ indicated a prevalence of SAD of 10.7% (95% CI 8.6-13.1) while the SHQ provided a significantly lower estimate of 5.6% (95% CI 4.2-7.4).

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Authors: Thompson, C., Thompson, S., & Smith, R.
Affiliations: Royal South Hants Hospital (GB)
West London Mental Health NHS Trust (GB)
Corresponding author: Thompson, Chris
Venue: Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2004-03
Volume: 78
Issue: 3
Pages: 219-226
ISSN: 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0327(02)00314-2
OpenAlex: W2098235344
Cited by: 46
References: 23
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 0.42
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords: seasonal affective disorder, Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire, sensitivity and specificity, positive predictive value, prevalence, primary care
MeSH terms: Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Primary Health Care, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sensitivity and Specificity, Prevalence, Seasonal Affective Disorder

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Prevalence of seasonal affective disorder in primary care; a comparison of the seasonal health questionnaire and the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire.

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