OBJECTIVE: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects from 1.7% to 5.5% of children. Previous studies found that nonseasonally depressed children had a blunted circadian rhythm, while adults with SAD had a delayed and poorly entrained rhythm. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pediatric SAD more closely resembles nonseasonal pediatric depression or adult SAD. METHOD: Twelve normal, healthy volunteers (11.6 +/- 3.7 years; 6 female, 6 male) and 14 unmedicated children with SAD (11.0 +/- 3.3 years; 9 female, 5 male) meeting Rosenthal/NIMH criteria for SAD and Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Epidemiologic version criteria for major depression had their levels of activity recorded for 72 hours (weekdays) using belt-worn actigraphs. RESULTS: The SAD group had blunted circadian amplitudes that were 10% lower than normal (p = .004). They were more poorly modeled by the standard cosinor equation (p = .001), and a circadian rhythm accounted for 39% less of the variability in their activity profile (p = .007). The amplitude of the 12-hour harmonic rhythm was markedly increased. There were no differences between SAD and control children in the timing of the circadian rhythm and degree of entrainment. CONCLUSIONS: Children with SAD displayed dysregulated circadian activity rhythms comparable with those reported in nonseasonally depressed children, yet different from those observed in adults.
OBJECTIVE:Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects from 1.7% to 5.5% of children. Previous studies found that nonseasonally depressedchildren had a blunted circadian rhythm, while adults with SAD had a delayed and poorly entrained rhythm. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pediatric SAD more closely resembles nonseasonal pediatric depression or adult SAD. METHOD: Twelve normal, healthy volunteers (11.6 +/- 3.7 years; 6 female, 6 male) and 14 unmedicated children with SAD (11.0 +/- 3.3 years; 9 female, 5 male) meeting Rosenthal/NIMH criteria for SAD and Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Epidemiologic version criteria for major depression had their levels of activity recorded for 72 hours (weekdays) using belt-worn actigraphs. RESULTS: The SAD group had blunted circadian amplitudes that were 10% lower than normal (p = .004). They were more poorly modeled by the standard cosinor equation (p = .001), and a circadian rhythm accounted for 39% less of the variability in their activity profile (p = .007). The amplitude of the 12-hour harmonic rhythm was markedly increased. There were no differences between SAD and control children in the timing of the circadian rhythm and degree of entrainment. CONCLUSIONS:Children with SAD displayed dysregulated circadian activity rhythms comparable with those reported in nonseasonally depressedchildren, yet different from those observed in adults.
Authors: Stephen F Smagula; Caitlin M DuPont; Megan A Miller; Robert T Krafty; Brant P Hasler; Peter L Franzen; Kathryn A Roecklein Journal: Chronobiol Int Date: 2018-07-19 Impact factor: 2.877
Authors: Catharina Lavebratt; Louise K Sjöholm; Pia Soronen; Tiina Paunio; Marquis P Vawter; William E Bunney; Rolf Adolfsson; Yvonne Forsell; Joseph C Wu; John R Kelsoe; Timo Partonen; Martin Schalling Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-02-24 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Gianni L Faedda; Kyoko Ohashi; Mariely Hernandez; Cynthia E McGreenery; Marie C Grant; Argelinda Baroni; Ann Polcari; Martin H Teicher Journal: J Child Psychol Psychiatry Date: 2016-01-22 Impact factor: 8.982