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How Seasonal are You?
Most people are seasonal, though some are more so than others. In fact, over 90 percent of all those who responded to a survey conducted in Maryland, about thirty-nine degrees north, reported that they felt some difference in mood, energy, or behavior with the change of seasons. In Chapter 3 of The Winter Blues, you will see how to determine how seasonal you are by means of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Question 2 of the SPAQ is reproduced below.
To derive your overall seasonality score, calculate your score for all six items, for a possible range of 0 to 24. This overall seasonality score can be expected to vary according to where you live. For example, the same person who has a very high seasonality score during years spent in Alaska is likely to find the score greatly reduced after living for several years in Hawaii. Likewise, treatment with light therapy or antidepressants is also likely to reduce one's overall seasonality score. In general, the six functions measured vary seasonally most markedly in SAD patients, but also in those less severely affected and in the general population. The extent to which they vary is reflected in the overall seasonality score.
An average overall score ranges from 4 to 7 points. If your score is 8 to 11, you may fall into the category of subsyndromal SAD, also known as the "winter blues" or "February blahs." If your score is 11 or more, you may well suffer from SAD. More specific guidelines to help you evaluate whether you may be suffering from these conditions are outlined in The Winter Blues.
According to a population study conducted by Dr. Siegfried Kasper and colleagues in the Seasonal Studies Program at the NIMH, women in their late thirties are likely to have the highest seasonality scores, and these scores tend to decrease as they get older. There is less evidence that the seasonality score changes with age in men.
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