Letter: `Sad' city hits back

Sir: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the core topic of your article on Aberdeen ("Britain's saddest city", 29 October) is a specific symptom-complex related to light exposure. It is well recognised in Aberdeen, where considerable evidence has been gathered about its diagnosis and treatment.

As a result, its incidence is more accurately estimated in North-east Scotland than many other places. SAD exists everywhere but is less well recognised and hence under-reported in other areas.

Your writer completely ignores the factors which affect local quality of life, other than sunlight and football. On the positive side, Aberdeen has a wide cultural mixture and tradition including a self-deprecating sense of humour. We have vast areas of beautiful Scottish scenery all around us and an affluent mixed economy which has lasted for centuries.

All right, like everyone this far north, we may slow down a bit in winter and become a little less outgoing, but, come spring, we get back to normal. What is your excuse for the rude, bad-mannered, ill-tempered insularity which is the norm all year round for many square miles around your editorial address?

R W GRANT

Aberdeen