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Researchers have recently found a new type of depression caused by disturbances in the body’s biological clock. Researchers at the University of Sydney found that Circadian Depression is a new sub-type of depression that is associated with disturbances in sleep, wakefulness and other physiological processes.
The study which was published in the journal of psychiatry found that individuals with circadian depression were more likely to experience depressive symptoms earlier in life. It also found that they would report greater illness severity, especially an increase in suicidal thoughts and mania. This occurs when there are disturbances in the body’s 24-hour body clock called the circadian rhythm.
Read More: Longdaysin and the Biological Clock: How Internal Timekeeping Can Be Adjusted
What The Study Found
Participants with circadian depression showed poor response and higher side-affects to anti-depressants that are commonly prescribed. The study also found common features were seasonal patterns of depressive symptoms, longer sleep during depressive episodes, continuously feeling tired after waking and a tendency to prefer staying awake late at night. The researchers feel that identifying circadian-related symptoms may help with effective treatment strategies.
Read More: AIIMS: A New Research on Depression
Importance of Circadian Rhythm
The circadian rhythm helps to manage the sleep-wake cycle over the course of 24-hours. It is easily influenced by light, sleep patterns, hormones, diet or lack of, and temperature which further influences and affects overall health. It usually develops in childhood and adolescence and can stabilize with routine healthy habits in adulthood but may change in older adults. In the hyperthalamus of the brain lies a master clock that determines our circadian rhythm.
This part of the brain is known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) which sends signals to different parts of the body and also takes in information. The SCN is primarily driven by light and on receiving signals from cells in the retina (eye), activates some hormones, alters body temperature and controls metabolism to draw in sleep. While light and dark have the most influence on the SCN, some other factors affect the circadian rhythm too.
- Age
- Temperature
- Food & metabolism
- Stress
- Physical activity
- Social environment
Read More: How to Improve Sleep Quality with Better Sleep Hygiene
Disruption To Circadian Rhythm
India was once known for its disciplined lifestyle which led to greater holistic health thanks to healthier habits including wholesome fresh diets, Yoga and Ayurveda besides natural surroundings that were green and untouched. However, modern India suffers from a lack of all of this in its fast-paced, development era. A few present-day habits that can affect and alter the circadian rhythm include the following.
- Overnight or work shifts that go beyond natural light hours
- Erratic working hours
- Travel that crosses time-zones in a short period
- Lifestyle that includes early waking or late sleeping
- Medication
- Stress
- Mental Health conditions
Resetting The Rhythm
Researchers suggest that circadian-friendly treatments like light therapy and melatonin may be more suitable for some individuals but not all those with circadian depression may react the same way to treatments. Individual assessment and treatment may have to be initiated by the therapists and practitioners in-charge. A few basic routines may help reset the natural biological clock and reduce the symptoms caused by the circadian glitch.
- Create a disciplined routine
- Boost wakefulness by spending time outdoors when there is light
- Daily exercise to boost sleep quality
- A comfortable sleeping environment
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine and nicotine in the evenings
- A gap after your meal and before sleep to help with digestion
- Switch off from screen-time and choose a book or meditation
- Avoid afternoon and evening naps
Conclusion
Modern lifestyles seem to be more attuned to patterns that disturb our circadian rhythm including late-work shifts, overtime culture and the Swiggy and Zomato era. However, this discovery sheds light on how divorced we as a community have become from our natural clock. The impact of a disturbed circadian rhythm can show up in health as well as mental challenges, calling for a larger reflection and assessment of modern-day habits which may need to be edited keeping in mind long-term holistic health.
Reference +
Healthline https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/circadian-rhythm
HP https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/circadian-depression-signs-explained_uk_6ad87650e4b02def98695923
Medical Dialogues https://medicaldialogues.in/mdtv/psychiatry/videos/scientists-discover-a-depression-subtype-linked-to-the-bodys-internal-clock-181685
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