“Summertime sadness”: Striatal dopamine binding decreases during warmer seasons in patients with severe depression
Reduced DAT availability is associated with key depressive symptoms, notably psychomotor retardation and suicidal ideation. Seasonal effects, especially in the SS period, may exacerbate dopaminergic dysregulation. These findings support integrating seasonal and neurobiological factors in the assessment and management of severe MDD.
Authors
- Federica Cavallo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4571-1060)
- Fabrizio Cocciolillo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5655-1448)
- Daniela Di Giuda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5758-3986)
- Giovanni Camardese (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8139-9230)
- Antonio Maria D’Onofrio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6807-5796)
- A. Simonetti
- Eleonora Maggio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3609-1851)
- Alexia E. Koukopoulos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7004-5007)
- G. Sani
- Rosaria Calia
- Delfina Janiri
- Daniele Antonio Pizzuto
- Giovanni Martinotti
- Mauro Pettorruso
Institutions
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (IT)
- University of Chieti-Pescara (IT)
- Link Campus University (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging
- Published
- 2026-01-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2026.112145
- Primary Topic
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00