Possible effect of gender and season on the length of hospitalisation in unipolar major depressives

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2003-02, Vol.73 (3), p.279-282
• Main Authors: Kecskés, István, Rihmer, Zoltán, Kiss, Kitty, Vargha, András, Szili, Ilona, Rihmer, Annamária
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Female; Gender differences; Hospitalisation; Humans; Hungary; Institution therapy. Inpatient treatment; Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Retrospective Studies; Seasonal variation; Seasons; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Sex Factors; Treatment Outcome; Treatments; Unipolar major depression
• ISSN: 0165-0327
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-0327(01)00478-5

Background: Seasonal variation as well as gender differences of several phenomena of affective disorders are a common topic of interest. Methods: The authors analysed the possible effect of season and gender on the length of hospital stay in 529 in-patients with unipolar major depressive episode. Results: Age and menopausal status alone did not influence the length of hospitalisation but there was a statistical tendency (only for females) for the shortest hospital stay in summer, that reached significance in females younger than 50 years. Conclusions: The results suggest a possible seasonal and gender effect on recovery from major depression. Limitations: Retrospective nature of the study, lack of systematic assessment of clinical response and no data collection about marital status and living conditions, that also can influence the time of discharge.