Relationships between seasonality and alcohol use: a genetic hypothesis

Seasonal changes in mood and behavior (seasonality) are common throughout the population. Alcohol use and alcohol-related problems are also very common in society. Recent data suggest that seasonality is closely related to alcoholism. Some patients with alcoholism have a seasonal pattern to their alcohol abuse. Patients with alcoholism may be self-medicating an underlying seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with alcohol or manifesting a seasonal pattern to alcohol-induced depression. Family studies also suggest that there is a relationship between alcoholism and SAD. The author proposes that there is a genetic link between seasonality and alcoholism. This relationship is complex and involves various factors. It could be an inherited personality dimension, i.e., certain personality types may predispose to both seasonality and excessive alcohol consumption. SAD may be a subtype of mood disorder that is closely related to alcoholism. More studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms involved in the relationship between seasonality and alcohol use. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.