Depressive SymptomsSPAQ-ADONCT07895758
Assessment of the Seasonality of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents
An observational study of Depressive Symptoms, run by University Hospital, Rouen at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
The seasonality of affective disorders-particularly depressive symptoms-is well-documented in adults, yet it remains under-researched in adolescents. Recent studies, however, suggest that young people aged 11 to 20 experience marked seasonal fluctuations in mood. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 11 to 17 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Depressive Symptoms
- What is being tested?
- Measuring the intensity of the seasonality of depressive symptoms in adolescents
- How many people
- 210 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2026to 1 Apr 2028
- How long will I take part?
- 1 Day
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 11 to 17 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Study population: Participants will be recruited from the Rouen University Hospital, within pediatric departments that admit adolescents receiving care for mental health reasons.
Who may be able to join
- Age 11-17 years.
- Hospitalization in a pediatric ward (or post-emergency pediatric psychiatric care within the ECLIPSE unit) for depressive symptoms/suicidal crisis linked to a depressive state (DSM-5 criteria).
- Proficiency in French and the ability to self-complete the SPAQ questionnaire following clinical stabilization.
- Provision of information to the minor and no objection from those holding parental authority (in accordance with local procedures).
- First inclusion only (in the event of readmission, the initial episode is the one considered).
Who cannot join
- Conditions that interfere with the completion of a reliable self-report questionnaire: moderate-to-severe intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with significant communication impairments, an acute mental state (severe psychotic disorganization, acute intoxication/withdrawal, delirium), or severe physical pain.
- Absence of a current depressive state.
- Manic/hypomanic episode predominant at the time of data collection (depressive symptoms take priority for the purpose of assessing seasonality).
- Insufficient command of the French language or sensory impairments that prevent the assessment from being administered, even with assistance.
- SPAQ not completed (or major missing data, rendering the GSS uninterpretable).
- Patient refusal.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site
University Rouen Hospital
Rouen, 76031
Axel AH HUET, medical resident, 02 32 88 18 98 ext. +33, axel.huet@chu-rouen.fr
About this study
Official title: Assessment of the Seasonality of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents Receiving Care for Mental Health Reasons in a Pediatric Setting-or the ECLIPSE Study-Using the SPAQ Questionnaire
The seasonality of affective disorders-particularly depressive symptoms-is well-documented in adults, yet it remains under-researched in adolescents. Recent studies, however, suggest that young people aged 11 to 20 experience marked seasonal fluctuations in mood. In both hospital pediatric settings and the ECLIPSE program, many adolescents are admitted due to depressive symptoms or suicidal crises; however, the role of seasonality in these cases remains largely unexplored. ECLIPSE (a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Liaison and Emergency Consultation Team) is a service at the Rouen University Hospital dedicated to providing emergency and post-emergency care for children and adolescents experiencing psychological distress. It is designed for minors aged 3 to 16 whose psychological state requires prompt intervention, but not hospitalization. Clinical observation suggests that, for some patients, depressive manifestations follow an annual cycle. Identifying such seasonal patterns could help improve our understanding of vulnerability factors and enable the adaptation of prevention and care strategies. The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) (Reynaud et al., 2022)-used in adults (>18 years old) to screen for seasonal affective disorder via a Global Seasonality Score (GSS)-is a simple, self-administered tool that can easily be used with adolescents. Its application in this context would allow for the assessment of the seasonality of depressive symptoms within this hospitalized population.
Read the detailed description
The hypothesis of this project is that, among adolescents hospitalized in pediatric wards for depressive symptoms, there exists a measurable seasonality of mood-characterized by significant variations in symptoms throughout the year-which can be identified using the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ).
- Conditions
- Depressive Symptoms
- Being tested
- Measuring the intensity of the seasonality of depressive symptoms in adolescents
- Keywords
- teenagers, mental health, SPAQ questionnaire
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Measuring the intensity of the seasonality of depressive symptoms in adolescentsDiagnostic test
Adolescents who agree to participate will be invited to complete the SPAQ questionnaire either independently or with the assistance of a team member. It will be administered on a single occasion and is expected to take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
To assess the intensity of the seasonality of depressive symptoms in adolescents receiving care for child psychiatric reasons at the Rouen University Hospital
The intensity of the seasonality of depressive symptoms will be measured using the continuous Global Seasonality Score (GSS) from the SPAQ. The GSS is the sum of six items related to seasonal variation (sleep, social activity, mood, weight, appetite, and energy), each rated from 0 to 4, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 24. A high score indicates greater reported seasonal variations
Measured: 1 day
Secondary outcomes (11)
Determine the proportion of adolescents with a profile consistent with seasonal affective disorder, based on the Global Seasonality Score (GSS) from the SPAQ.
Proportion of adolescents whose responses to the SPAQ questionnaire correspond to a profile consistent with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or a subsyndromal profile (S-SAD).
The classification is based on two complementary elements:
- The GSS: the seasonality score, ranging from 0 to 24.
- Perceived impairment: the extent to which seasonal variations affect the adolescent's life, assessed via a specific item in the questionnaire.
The classification will be based on the following profiles :
- Profile consistent with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
- GSS ≥ 11 and at least moderate impairment. The adolescent reports significant seasonal variations, accompanied by at least a moderate impact.
- Profile compatible with S-SAD (Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder)
Two scenarios are possible:
- A GSS (Global Seasonality Score) between 8 and 10, accompanied by at least mild impairment.
- A GSS ≥ 11, but without significant impairment. Seasonal variations are present, but their
Measured: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (age, sex, psychiatric history, context of hospitalization, family psychiatric history (especially disorders)).
Determination of factors associated with seasonality (age, sex, medical history, reason for hospitalization, and family and personal psychiatric history).
Measured: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (age).
Determination of factors associated with seasonality (age)
Measured: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (sex).
Determination of factors associated with seasonality (sex).
Measured: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (psychiatric history).
Determination of factors associated with seasonality (psychiatric history).
Measured: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (context of hospitalization).
Determination of factors associated with seasonality (reason for hospitalization).
Measured: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (medical history).
Determination of factors associated with seasonality (medical history).
Measured: 1 day
To evaluate the feasibility of using the SPAQ in an adolescent population hospitalized in a pediatric setting.
The completion rate for the SPAQ questionnaire is an important indicator of the feasibility of its use among adolescents hospitalized in pediatric settings.
It makes it possible to measure the proportion of questionnaires that are filled out-ideally, with a sufficient level of completeness to be usable.
The completion rate for the SPAQ questionnaire is number of completed questionnaires out of the number of questionnaires for which administration was undertaken. The feasibility of using the SPAQ will be assessed, in particular, by the questionnaire completion rate, defined as the proportion of fully completed and usable questionnaires out of the total number of questionnaires that were initiated.
Measured: 1 day
To evaluate the relevance of using the SPAQ in an adolescent population hospitalized in a pediatric setting (Taken Time).
The time taken to complete the questionnaire will make it possible to assess its ease of use. The administration time is determined by subtracting the start time from the end time to obtain the duration, in minutes, taken to complete the questionnaire.
Measured: 1 day
To evaluate the relevance of using the SPAQ in an adolescent population hospitalized in a pediatric setting (Feedback from adolescents).
The aim is to assess the understanding of the questions, the difficulties encountered, and the feelings experienced in relation to the questionnaire. The acceptability of the questionnaire will be assessed by collecting brief feedback from the adolescents after they have completed it. This will focus, in particular, on their understanding of the questions, the ease of filling out the questionnaire, its perceived length, and any difficulties encountered. The responses will be analyzed descriptively, using counts and proportions for the closed-ended questions.
Measured: 1 day
Comparing the SPAQ score with the clinical assessment of seasonality
This assessment is part of the standard child and adolescent psychiatric evaluation and requires no additional procedures; the clinician will conduct it without knowledge of the SPAQ score. The adolescent completes the questionnaire. The investigator calculates their GSS score, which measures the magnitude of the reported seasonal variations. A child and adolescent psychiatrist explores the seasonal nature of depressive episodes using a semi-structured interview based on DSM-5 criteria. Researchers compare the SPAQ result with the conclusion of the clinical assessment to examine the level of agreement between the two. The DSM-5 is a reference manual used by mental health professionals to describe, classify, and diagnose psychiatric disorders according to defined criteria. The DSM-5 serves as a reference for exploring the seasonal nature of depressive episodes.
Measured: 1 day
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Oct 2026
- Study start1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion2 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Apr 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Depressive SymptomsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University Hospital, RouenThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 210 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 1 Day
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Rouen
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Héloise HY YOUNG, Professor, Study director, Univerity Rouen HospitalAxel AH HUET, medical resident, Principal investigator, university Rouen Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07895758
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026/0216/OB
- Other IDs
- 2026-A01506-45
- Acronym
- SPAQ-ADO
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessment of the Seasonality of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents Receiving Care for Mental Health Reasons in a Pediatric Setting-or the ECLIPSE Study-Using the SPAQ Questionnaire
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07895758
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SPAQ-ADO / 2026/0216/OB
- Conditions
- Depressive Symptoms
- Keywords
- teenagers, mental health, SPAQ questionnaire
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 210 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, RouenUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 2 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The seasonality of affective disorders-particularly depressive symptoms-is well-documented in adults, yet it remains under-researched in adolescents. Recent studies, however, suggest that young people aged 11 to 20 experience marked seasonal fluctuations in mood. In both hospital pediatric settings and the ECLIPSE program, many adolescents are admitted due to depressive symptoms or suicidal crises; however, the role of seasonality in these cases remains largely unexplored. ECLIPSE (a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Liaison and Emergency Consultation Team) is a service at the Rouen University Hospital dedicated to providing emergency and post-emergency care for children and adolescents experiencing psychological distress. It is designed for minors aged 3 to 16 whose psychological state requires prompt intervention, but not hospitalization. Clinical observation suggests that, for some patients, depressive manifestations follow an annual cycle. Identifying such seasonal patterns could help improve our understanding of vulnerability factors and enable the adaptation of prevention and care strategies. The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) (Reynaud et al., 2022)-used in adults (>18 years old) to screen for seasonal affective disorder via a Global Seasonality Score (GSS)-is a simple, self-administered tool that can easily be used with adolescents. Its application in this context would allow for the assessment of the seasonality of depressive symptoms within this hospitalized population.
Detailed description
The hypothesis of this project is that, among adolescents hospitalized in pediatric wards for depressive symptoms, there exists a measurable seasonality of mood-characterized by significant variations in symptoms throughout the year-which can be identified using the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ).
Study design
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Target follow-up
- 1 Day
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 11 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
- Study population
- Participants will be recruited from the Rouen University Hospital, within pediatric departments that admit adolescents receiving care for mental health reasons.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age 11-17 years.
- Hospitalization in a pediatric ward (or post-emergency pediatric psychiatric care within the ECLIPSE unit) for depressive symptoms/suicidal crisis linked to a depressive state (DSM-5 criteria).
- Proficiency in French and the ability to self-complete the SPAQ questionnaire following clinical stabilization.
- Provision of information to the minor and no objection from those holding parental authority (in accordance with local procedures).
- First inclusion only (in the event of readmission, the initial episode is the one considered).
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Conditions that interfere with the completion of a reliable self-report questionnaire: moderate-to-severe intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with significant communication impairments, an acute mental state (severe psychotic disorganization, acute intoxication/withdrawal, delirium), or severe physical pain.
- Absence of a current depressive state.
- Manic/hypomanic episode predominant at the time of data collection (depressive symptoms take priority for the purpose of assessing seasonality).
- Insufficient command of the French language or sensory impairments that prevent the assessment from being administered, even with assistance.
- SPAQ not completed (or major missing data, rendering the GSS uninterpretable).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring the intensity of the seasonality of depressive symptoms in adolescentsAdolescents who agree to participate will be invited to complete the SPAQ questionnaire either independently or with the assistance of a team member. It will be administered on a single occasion and is expected to take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. | Diagnostic test | – |
Primary outcome
To assess the intensity of the seasonality of depressive symptoms in adolescents receiving care for child psychiatric reasons at the Rouen University Hospital
Time frame: 1 day
The intensity of the seasonality of depressive symptoms will be measured using the continuous Global Seasonality Score (GSS) from the SPAQ. The GSS is the sum of six items related to seasonal variation (sleep, social activity, mood, weight, appetite, and energy), each rated from 0 to 4, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 24. A high score indicates greater reported seasonal variations
11 secondary outcomes
Determine the proportion of adolescents with a profile consistent with seasonal affective disorder, based on the Global Seasonality Score (GSS) from the SPAQ.
Time frame: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (age, sex, psychiatric history, context of hospitalization, family psychiatric history (especially disorders)).
Time frame: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (age).
Time frame: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (sex).
Time frame: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (psychiatric history).
Time frame: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (context of hospitalization).
Time frame: 1 day
Describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with seasonal variation in depressive symptoms (medical history).
Time frame: 1 day
To evaluate the feasibility of using the SPAQ in an adolescent population hospitalized in a pediatric setting.
Time frame: 1 day
To evaluate the relevance of using the SPAQ in an adolescent population hospitalized in a pediatric setting (Taken Time).
Time frame: 1 day
To evaluate the relevance of using the SPAQ in an adolescent population hospitalized in a pediatric setting (Feedback from adolescents).
Time frame: 1 day
Comparing the SPAQ score with the clinical assessment of seasonality
Time frame: 1 day
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Héloise HY YOUNG, Professor study director
Univerity Rouen Hospital
Axel AH HUET, medical resident principal investigator
university Rouen Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Depressive Symptoms, run by University Hospital, Rouen at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nabila NL LAAJAIL, Director (02 32 88 82 65 ext. +33, nabila.laajail@chu-rouen.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
To assess the intensity of the seasonality of depressive symptoms in adolescents receiving care for child psychiatric reasons at the Rouen University Hospital (time frame: 1 day). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Oct 2026.