Journal of affective disordersAug 5, 2015

Daily biological rhythms in bipolar and depressive disorders in young adults without medication

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

Biological rhythm disruption was significantly higher in bipolar disorder (BD) at 40.32±9.92 and major depressive disorder (MDD) at 36.23±8.71 compared to community controls at 27.67±6.88.

Both bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder are linked to disruptions in biological rhythms.
Individuals with bipolar disorder exhibited higher total scores on the Biological Rhythm Interview compared to those with major depressive disorder.
Increased disruptions in sleep and social rhythms were observed in subjects with bipolar disorder relative to those with major depressive disorder.
Biological rhythm disruptions were noted in individuals with bipolar disorder during euthymic phases, but not in those with remitted major depressive disorder.
Assessing biological rhythm disruptions may help in identifying mood disorder patients and differentiating between bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

Simplified

AIM: To assess biological rhythm disruptions among drug-naïve young adults with bipolar disorder (BD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and community controls.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study nested in a population-based study. BD and MDD were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Biological rhythm disruptions were assessed using the Biological Rhythm Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN).

RESULTS: Two hundred seventeen subjects were assessed (49 BD, 74 MDD, and 94 community controls). Biological rhythm disruption was higher in subjects with BD (40.32±9.92; p<0.001) and MDD (36.23±8.71; p<0.001) than community controls (27.67±6.88). Subjects with BD had a higher BRIAN total score (p=0.028) and higher disruption in sleep/social domains (p=0.018) as compared to MDD. In addition, the BRIAN scores were higher in current MDD, euthymic BD, and BD in current episode group, as compared to community controls.

LIMITATION: Cross-sectional design. Absence of assessment of biomarkers of biological rhythms.

CONCLUSION: Bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder are associated with disruption in biological rhythm. In addition, disruption in sleep/social rhythms is higher in subjects with BD when compared to subjects with MDD. We also verified biological rhythm disruption in subjects with BD during euthymic status, but not in remitted MDD. Regulation of biological rhythm may be a means to identify patients with mood disorders and potentially differentiate MDD from BD.

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Daily biological rhythms in bipolar and depressive disorders in young adults without medication

Abstract

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