Annals of medicine

Using the Body’s Internal Clock to Treat Mood Disorders

Updated

Abstract

Disruption of circadian clocks is strongly associated with mood disorders.

  • Four major features of disrupted clocks may contribute to mood disorders: loss of synchronization to environmental 24-hour rhythms, internal desynchronization among body clocks, low rhythm amplitude, and changes in sleep architecture.
  • Specific mechanisms by which circadian disruption may lead to mood disorders are poorly characterized.
  • Chronotherapies targeting circadian rhythms could be effective treatments for mood disorders, though they are not widely utilized in clinical practice.
  • Discussing these mechanisms may enhance the credibility of chronotherapies among clinicians.

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