Clinical Research Directory

Assessment of the Seasonality of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents

Sponsor: University Hospital, Rouen

Summary

The seasonality of affective disorders-particularly depressive symptoms-is well-documented in adults, yet it remains under-researched in adolescents. Recent studies, however, suggest that young people aged 11 to 20 experience marked seasonal fluctuations in mood. In both hospital pediatric settings and the ECLIPSE program, many adolescents are admitted due to depressive symptoms or suicidal crises; however, the role of seasonality in these cases remains largely unexplored. ECLIPSE (a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Liaison and Emergency Consultation Team) is a service at the Rouen University Hospital dedicated to providing emergency and post-emergency care for children and adolescents experiencing psychological distress. It is designed for minors aged 3 to 16 whose psychological state requires prompt intervention, but not hospitalization. Clinical observation suggests that, for some patients, depressive manifestations follow an annual cycle. Identifying such seasonal patterns could help improve our understanding of vulnerability factors and enable the adaptation of prevention and care strategies. The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) (Reynaud et al., 2022)-used in adults (\>18 years old) to screen for seasonal affective disorder via a Global Seasonality Score (GSS)-is a simple, self-administered tool that can easily be used with adolescents. Its application in this context would allow for the assessment of the seasonality of depressive symptoms within this hospitalized population.

Official title: Assessment of the Seasonality of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents Receiving Care for Mental Health Reasons in a Pediatric Setting-or the ECLIPSE Study-Using the SPAQ Questionnaire

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