Disruption of Circadian Rhythms: A Crucial Factor in the Etiology of Depression

Abstract

Circadian factors might play a crucial role in the etiology of depression. It has been demonstrated that the disruption of circadian rhythms by lighting conditions and lifestyle predisposes individuals to a wide range of mood disorders, including impulsivity, mania and depression. Also, associated with depression, there is the impairment of circadian rhythmicity of behavioral, endocrine, and metabolic functions. Inspite of this close relationship between both processes, the complex relationship between the biological clock and the incidence of depressive symptoms is far from being understood. The efficiency and the timing of treatments based on chronotherapy (e.g., light treatment, sleep deprivation, and scheduled medication) indicate that the circadian system is an essential target in the therapy of depression. The aim of the present review is to analyze the biological and clinical data that link depression with the disruption of circadian rhythms, emphasizing the contribution of circadian desynchrony. Therefore, we examine the conditions that may lead to circadian disruption of physiology and behavior as described in depressive states, and, according to this approach, we discuss therapeutic strategies aimed at treating the circadian system and depression.

Biological rhythms in bipolar and depressive disorders: A community study with drug-naïve young adults

“…In depressive disorders, rhythm disruption is associated to illness current status. Studies assessing subjects with depressive disorders suggest that biological rhythms are altered in a lesser extent than BD (Salgado-Delgado et al, 2011;Soria and Urretavizcaya, 2009), which is also observed in our data. Furthermore, a study using a clinical sample of euthymic bipolar patients also showed greater overall biological rhythm disruption than heathy controls (Rosa et al, 2013).…”

“…Dysregulation of internal and neurobiological rhythms reflects changing patterns of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine secretion (Salgado-Delgado et al, 2011). Disruption of internal time can lead to further induction of mood and sleep-wake cycle changes (Robillard et al, 2013).…”

Bedtime and Sleep Duration in Relation to Depressive Symptoms among Japanese Workers

“…Subjects with insomnia, defined as difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep or experiencing non-restorative sleep, are known to have an increased risk of depression compared with those without insomnia 20,21) . Regular patterns of social behaviors-including bedtime and wake time, social interactions and meal time-have been suggested to affect circadian rhythms 22) , and any disruption of these rhythms could cause depressive symptoms 23,24) . However, relatively few studies have investigated the association between bedtime and depressive symptoms.…”

Chronic constant light-induced hippocampal late-phase long-term potentiation impairment in vitro is attenuated by antagonist of D1/D5 receptors

“…Disruption of biological rhythm was correlated with cortisol elevation in human (Salgado-Delgado et al, 2011). CCL could also elicit stress and higher level of corticosterone in rats (Tapia-Osorio et al, 2013).…”