The Validity of Major Depression With Seasonal Pattern: Reply to Young (2017)

Abstract

Young claims that our argument against a seasonal pattern for major depressive disorder fails because we incorrectly assumed that the seasonal pattern corresponds to what has been called “winter blues.” In doing so he changes the definition of major depression with a seasonal pattern, thereby contradicting the history of the seasonal pattern modifier, recent and current versions of the DSM, and what is taught in prominent introductory and abnormal psychology textbooks. Despite this divergence, both our research and his share important implications for seasonal affective disorder/major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern (MDD-SP) theory and raise questions about the causal influence of sunlight, and resources devoted to treatment of MDD-SP by supplemental light exposure. Concluding remarks reflect on the process by which the folk theory of winter blues was able to gain and maintain a scientific interpretation.