Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a subtype of recurrent depressive or bipolar disorder that is characterized by regular onset and remission of affective episodes at the same time of the year. The aim of the present study was to provide epidemiological data and data on the socioeconomic impact of SAD in the general population of Austria.

We conducted a computer-assisted telephone interview in 910 randomly selected subjects (577 females and 333 males) using the Seasonal Health Questionnaire (SHQ), the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Telephone numbers were randomly drawn from all Austrian telephone books and transformed using the random last digits method. The last birthday method was employed to choose the target person for the interviews.

Out of our subjects, 2.5% fulfilled criteria for the seasonal pattern specifier according to DSM-5 and 2.4% (95% CI = 1.4–3.5%) were diagnosed with SAD. When applying the ICD-10 criteria 1.9% (95% CI = 0.9–2.8%) fulfilled SAD diagnostic criteria. The prevalence of fall-winter depression according to the Kasper-Rosenthal criteria was determined to be 3.5%. The criteria was fulfilled by 15.1% for subsyndromal SAD (s-SAD). We did not find any statistically significant gender differences in prevalence rates. When using the DSM-5 as a gold standard for the diagnosis of SAD, diagnosis derived from the SPAQ yielded a sensitivity of 31.8% and a specificity of 97.2%. Subjects with SAD had significantly higher scores on the SDS and higher rates of sick leave and days with reduced productivity than healthy subjects.

Prevalence estimates for SAD with the SHQ are lower than with the SPAQ. Our data are indicative of the substantial burden of disease and the socioeconomic impact of SAD. This epidemiological data shows a lack of gender differences in SAD prevalence. The higher rates of females in clinical SAD samples might, at least in part, be explained by lower help seeking behaviour in males.

On 15 August 2007, a 7.0 Richter magnitude earthquake struck the southern coast of Peru. Economic resources were invested to help the healthcare facilities affected by the earthquake recover, and to control public health problems in the regions of Huancavelica, lea, and Lima.

The estimation of the economic impact was based on the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean's methodology on the socioeconomic and environmental impact assessment of disasters. Reports and information about the actions taken by public and non-public health organizations during the response and recovery phases. This information was used to calculate the effect on goods and economic flows in the health sector.

The economic impact of the earthquake reached 139.1 million dollars, of which, 95% was related to damages to healthcare facilities, and 5% was due to losses.

A national safe hospital strategy is needed in order to reduce the monetary investments spent on the recovery of damaged healthcare facilities, as well as to assure that the affected population continues to receive medical attention during the emergency phase.