Dysfunctional attitudes in seasonal affective disorder

Research examining dysfunctional attitudes in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has produced contrasting results. The present study sought to resolve this contradiction by addressing some methodological problems of the previous studies. The study examined dysfunctional attitudes using the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS) in individuals with SAD and never-depressed controls. The SAD group were tested both when depressed in the winter (Time 1) and during their remission period (Time 2). At Time 1 the SAD group displayed a relatively elevated DAS compared to controls and to their Time 2 scores. These data therefore provide potential support for a view that SAD is characterized by underlying dysfunctional attitudes.