Indian Journal of Sleep Medicine

Register      Login

SEARCH WITHIN CONTENT

FIND ARTICLE

Volume / Issue

Online First

Archive
Volume  19 (2024)
Volume  18 (2023)
Volume  17 (2022)
Volume  16 (2021)
Volume  15 (2020)
Volume  14 (2019)
Volume  13 (2018)
Volume  12 (2017)
Volume  11 (2016)
Volume  10 (2015)
Volume  9 (2014)
Volume  8 (2013)
Volume  7 (2012)
Volume  6 (2011)
Volume  5 (2010)
Volume  4 (2009)
Volume  3 (2008)
Volume  2 (2007)
Volume  1 (2006)
Related articles

VOLUME 19 , ISSUE 3 ( July-September, 2024 ) > List of Articles

COMMENTARY

Chronobiology and Its Psychiatric Relevance

Samia Ansari, Sandeep Kumar, Mona Srivastava

Keywords : Chronobiology, Circadian rhythms, Melatonin, Seasonality, Suprachiasmatic nucleus

Citation Information : Ansari S, Kumar S, Srivastava M. Chronobiology and Its Psychiatric Relevance. Indian Sleep Med 2024; 19 (3):48-53.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10069-0137

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 13-09-2024

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Chronobiology, stemming from the Greek roots “chrónos” and “biology,” delves into the intricate temporal dimensions of life. The circadian rhythm is at the heart of this inquiry, a meticulously studied biological cycle persisting over approximately 24 hours. Governed by the circadian axis, with the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) as its pivot, this complex system integrates sensory input from retinal photoreceptors to coordinate essential rhythmic outputs crucial for circadian regulation. Melatonin, a prominent circadian-regulated hormone, possesses the remarkable ability to synchronize biological rhythms. Disruptions to this finely tuned mechanism, induced by sudden shifts in routine or seasonal changes, negatively affect circadian integrity. These disturbances can trigger affective disorders, including minor depressive episodes and Winter Blues, underscoring the close relationship between circadian rhythms and mental well-being. Furthermore, individuals with mood disorders often experience a myriad of irregularities in their sleep–wake cycles, highlighting the intricate interplay between biological rhythms and psychological equilibrium. By unraveling the complexities of these rhythms and elucidating the environmental factors influencing them, novel avenues emerge for developing therapeutic interventions aimed at correcting or even preventing disruptions in biological rhythms. This multifaceted approach holds promise for enhancing our understanding of circadian biology and fostering innovative strategies to promote holistic health and well-being.

PDF Share
  1. DeCoursey PJ, Dunlap JC, Loros JJ. Chronobiology. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates Inc.; 2003. p. 464. ISBN: 978-0-87893-149-1.
  2. Halberg F. Physiologic 24-hour periodicity; general and procedural considerations with reference to the adrenal cycle. Int Z Vitaminforsch Beih 1959;10:225–296. German. PMID: 14398945.
  3. Monteleone P, Maj M. The circadian basis of mood disorders: Recent developments and treatment implications. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2008;18(10):701–711. DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro. 2008.06.007.
  4. Monk TH, Frank E, Potts JM, et al. A simple way to measure daily lifestyle regularity. J Sleep Res 2002;11(3):183–190. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2869.2002.00300.x.
  5. Lewis P, Korf HW, Kuffer L, et al. Exercise time cues (zeitgebers) for human circadian systems can foster health and improve performance: A systematic review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018;4(1):e000443. DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000443.
  6. Palmer JD. The Biological Rhythms and Clocks of Intertidal Crabs. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1995a.
  7. Lloyd D, Rossi EL. Ultradian rhythms in life processes: An inquiry into fundamental principles of chronobiology and psychobiology. London, UK: Springer Science & Business Media; 2012.
  8. Buckley TM, Schatzberg AF. On the interactions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sleep: Normal HPA axis activity and circadian rhythm, exemplary sleep disorders. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005;90(5):3106–3114. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2004-1056.
  9. Inouye ST, Shibata S. Neurochemical organization of circadian rhythm in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Neurosci Res 1994;20(2):109–130. DOI: 10.1016/0168-0102(94)90029-9.
  10. Kitay JI, Altschule MD. The pineal gland: A review of the physiologic literature. A Commonwealth Fund book. New York: Commonwealth Fund; 1954.
  11. Rusak B, Zucker I. Neural regulation of circadian rhythms. Physiol Rev 1979;59(3):449–526. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.1979.59.3.449.
  12. Paul KN, Saafir TB, Tosini G. The role of retinal photoreceptors in the regulation of circadian rhythms. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2009;10(4):271–278. DOI: 10.1007/s11154-009-9120-x.
  13. Grandin LD, Alloy LB, Abramson LY. The social zeitgeber theory, circadian rhythms, and mood disorders: Review and evaluation. Clin Psychol Rev 2006;26(6):679–694. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2006.07.001.
  14. Bojkowski CJ, Arendt J, Shih MC, et al. Melatonin secretion in humans assessed by measuring its metabolite, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin. Clin Chem 1987;33(8):1343–1348. PMID: 3608151.
  15. Czeisler CA, Gooley JJ. Sleep and circadian rhythms in humans. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 2007;72:579–597. DOI: 10.1101/sqb.2007.72.064.
  16. DeYoung CG, Hasher L, Djikic M, et al. Morning people are stable people: Circadian rhythm and the higher-order factors of the big five. Pers Individ Differ 2007;43(2):267–276. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2006.11.030.
  17. Foret J, Touron N, Benoit O, et al. Sleep and body temperature in “morning” and “evening” people. Sleep 1985;8(4):311–318. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/8.4.311.
  18. Arendt J. Melatonin and the pineal gland: Influence on mammalian seasonal and circadian physiology. Rev Reprod 1998;3(1):13–22. DOI: 10.1530/ror.0.0030013.
  19. Hood S, Amir S. The aging clock: Circadian rhythms and later life. J Clin Invest 2017;127(2):437–446. DOI: 10.1172/JCI90328.
  20. Li JD, Hu WP, Zhou QY. Disruption of the circadian output molecule prokineticin 2 results in anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2009;34(2):367–373. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2008.61.
  21. Albrecht U. Circadian clocks and mood-related behaviors. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2013;(217):227–239. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-25950-0_9.
  22. McClung CA. Circadian genes, rhythms and the biology of mood disorders. Pharmacol Ther 2007;114(2):222–232. DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.02.003.
  23. World Health Organization. WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) Network. 2018. Available from: http://www.who.int/classifications/network/en. Accessed on: 17 Nov 2020.
  24. Regestein QR, Monk TH. Delayed sleep phase syndrome: A review of its clinical aspects. Am J Psychiatry 1995;152(4):602–608. DOI: 10.1176/ajp.152.4.602.
  25. Sack RL, Auckley D, Auger RR, et al. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders: Part II, advanced sleep phase disorder, delayed sleep phase disorder, free-running disorder, and irregular sleep-wake rhythm. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine review. Sleep 2007;30(11):1484–1501. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/30.11.1484.
  26. Kitamura S, Hida A, Enomoto M, et al. Intrinsic circadian period of sighted patients with circadian rhythm sleep disorder, free-running type. Biol Psychiatry 2013;73(1):63–69. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.027.
  27. Phillips AJK, Clerx WM, O'Brien CS, et al. Irregular sleep/wake patterns are associated with poorer academic performance and delayed circadian and sleep/wake timing. Sci Rep 2017;7(1):3216. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03171-4.
  28. Schwartz JR, Roth T. Shift work sleep disorder: Burden of illness and approaches to management. Drugs 2006;66(18):2357–2370. DOI: 10.2165/00003495-200666180-00007.
  29. Waterhouse J, Reilly T, Atkinson G. Jet-lag. Lancet 1997;350(9091): 1611–166. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)07569-7.
  30. Morgenthaler TI, Lee-Chiong T, Alessi C, et al. Standards of practice committee of the AASM. Practice parameters for the clinical evaluation and treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Sleep 2007;30(11):1445–1459. PMID: 18041479.
  31. Gooley JJ. Treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders with light. Ann Acad Med Singap 2008;37(8):669–676. PMID: 18797560.
  32. Pandi-Perumal SR, Trakht I, Spence DW, et al. The roles of melatonin and light in the pathophysiology and treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Nat Clin Pract Neurol 2008;4(8):436–447. DOI: 10.1038/ncpneuro0847.
  33. Partonen T, Lönnqvist J. Seasonal affective disorder. Lancet 1998;352(9137):1369–1374. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(98)01015-0.
  34. Kurlansik SL, Ibay AD. Seasonal affective disorder. Am Fam Physician 2012;86(11):1037–1041. PMID: 23198671.
  35. Howland RH. An overview of seasonal affective disorder and its treatment options. Phys Sportsmed 2009;37(4):104–115. DOI: 10.3810/psm.2009.12.1748.
  36. Takaesu Y. Circadian rhythm in bipolar disorder: A review of the literature. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2018;72(9):673–682. DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12688.
  37. Melo MCA, Abreu RLC, Linhares Neto VB, et al. Chronotype and circadian rhythm in bipolar disorder: A systematic review. Sleep Med Rev 2017;34:46–58. DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2016.06.007.
  38. Gruber J, Miklowitz DJ, Harvey AG, et al. Sleep matters: Sleep functioning and course of illness in bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord 2011;134(1–3):416–420. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.05.016.
  39. Chelminski I, Ferraro FR, Petros TV, et al. An analysis of the “eveningness-morningness” dimension in “depressive” college students. J Affect Disord 1999;52(1–3):19–29. DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0327(98)00051-2.
  40. Gaspar-Barba E, Calati R, Cruz-Fuentes CS, et al. Depressive symptomatology is influenced by chronotypes. J Affect Disord 2009;119(1–3):100–106. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2009.02.021.
  41. Wirz-Justice A. Biological rhythm disturbances in mood disorders. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2006;21 Suppl 1:S11–S15. DOI: 10.1097/01.yic.0000195660.37267.cf.
  42. Wulff K, Dijk DJ, Middleton B, et al. Sleep and circadian rhythm disruption in schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry 2012;200(4):308–316. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.096321.
  43. Ashton A, Jagannath A. Disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms in schizophrenia and their interaction with dopamine signaling. Front Neurosci 2020;14:636. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00636.
  44. Hasler BP, Smith LJ, Cousins JC, et al. Circadian rhythms, sleep, and substance abuse. Sleep Med Rev 2012;16(1):67–81. DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2011.03.004.
  45. Hasler BP, Soehner AM, Clark DB. Circadian rhythms and risk for substance use disorders in adolescence. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2014;27(6):460–466. DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000107.
  46. Gery S, Koeffler HP. Circadian rhythms and cancer. Cell Cycle 2010;9(6):1097–1103. DOI: 10.4161/cc.9.6.11046.
  47. Savvidis C, Koutsilieris M. Circadian rhythm disruption in cancer biology. Mol Med 2012;18(1):1249–1260. DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2012.00077.
  48. Morgan MN, Dvuchbabny S, Martinez CA, et al. The cancer clock is (not) ticking: Links between circadian rhythms and cancer. Clocks Sleep 2019;1(4):435–458. DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep1040034.
  49. Froy O. Metabolism and circadian rhythms–implications for obesity. Endocr Rev 2010;31(1):1–24. DOI: 10.1210/er.2009-0014.
  50. Li Y, Ma J, Yao K, et al. Circadian rhythms and obesity: Timekeeping governs lipid metabolism. J Pineal Res 2020;69(3):e12682. DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12682.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.