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Background: There are no large published studies of the prevalence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) among UK populations.Aim: To determine the prevalence of SAD among patients attending a general practitioner (GP).Method: Patients aged 16-64 consulting their GPs in Aberdeen during January were screened with the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). SPAQs were also mailed to 600 matched patients, who had not consulted their GP during January. Surgery attenders who fulfilled SPAQ criteria for SAD were invited for interview to determine whether they met criteria for SAD in DSM-IV and the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression--Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD).Results: Of 6161 surgery attenders, 4557 (74%) completed a SPAQ; 442 (9.7%) were SPAQ cases of SAD. Rate of caseness on the SPAQ did not differ between surgery attenders and non-attenders. Of 223 interviewed SPAQ cases of SAD, 91 (41%) also fulfilled DSM-IV and SIGH-SAD criteria.Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of SAD among patients attending their GPs in January in Aberdeen; this is likely to reflect a similar rate in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unlike non-seasonal depression, there is some evidence that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is more common among more affluent socioeconomic groups., Methods: In primary care settings in Aberdeen, 4557 subjects had previously completed a Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). From the subjects' postcodes they were allocated a Carstairs score which placed them in one of seven categories of socioeconomic deprivation. These categories were compared with regard to seasonal pathology from the SPAQ ratings., Results: Complete postcodes and Carstairs scores were established for 3772 (83%) of the 4557 subjects. No statistically significant relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and SPAQ ratings was detected., Limitations: The study population was an affluent one relative to Scotland as a whole which may have reduced the likelihood of a positive finding. The study was conducted 7 years after the census on which postcode deprivation scores were calculated, and changes therein may have occurred., Conclusions: SAD either has no relationship to social deprivation or is associated with affluence and this distinguishes it from non-seasonal depression., (Copright 2002 Elsevier Science BV.)