September 15, 2010 – Contrary to popular belief, weather conditions do not influence the risk of depression or depression.
However, certain seasons seem more conducive to major depression: summer for men and fall for women.
This is what emerges from a study carried out in the Netherlands in which nearly 15,000 people aged between 31 and 56 took part.
For 1 year and in different seasons, participants responded to a questionnaire used by psychiatrists to diagnose mood disorders in their patients. Note that seasonal depression does not fall into this category.
Then, the researchers cross-checked this data with the daily meteorological data recorded by the Royal Netherlands Institute of Meteorology, from December 2005 to December 2006.
Result: Regardless of whether it is raining, cold or the amount of sunshine is shortening, daily variations in temperature have no immediate effect on triggering depression or other mood disorders. .
In Canada, it is estimated that approximately 11% of men and 16% of women will experience major depression in their lifetime.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. Huibers MJ, et al, Does the weather make us sad? Meteorological determinants of mood and depression in the general population, Psychiatry Research, doi: 10.1016 (published online 21 May 2010).
