F. Cro, G. Bersani - Vol. 7, Settembre 2001, num.3
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Riassunto Indice
La sensibilità ai cambiamenti
stagionali come possibile fattore di rischio per lo sviluppo di disturbi premestruali.
Uno studio epidemiologico
Seasonality as a possible risk factor for the development of premenstrual
disorders.
An epidemiological survey
Objectives
Both Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) are cyclical disorders characterized by "atypical" depressive symptoms. The goals of the present study were: 1) to determine the prevalence of seasonal affective disorders and premenstrual symtoms in a female sample; 2) to test the hypothesis that seasonality may be considered as an index of a "chronobiological sensitivity", acting as a risk factor for the development of premenstrual symptoms.
Methods
An Italian translation of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) was administered to a female sample, consisting of 147 women of reproductive age.
Results
Prevalence of seasonal affective disorders (Winter-SAD, Subsyndromal-SAD, and Summer-SAD) were 10.2%, 19.7%, and 3.4%, respectively. A third of the sample reported significant premenstrual changes. The presence of an elevated seasonal sensitivity may act as a risk factor, predisposing to premenstrual disorders (Prevalence Odds Ratio = 4.062; I.C.95% = 1.93-8.56).
Conclusions
The above-mentioned results suggest that patients with SAD may be vulnerable to premenstrual fluctuations in their mood. This may have implications for the clinical assessment and treatment of SAD, PMDD, and a broader spectrum of "atypical" depressive syndromes