[Biological rhythm disturbances in affective disorders].
Affective disorders are characterized by rhythmic disturbances: early morning awaking, diurnal variations in mood, and periodic and seasonal recurrence of episodes. Therefore, biological rhythm disturbances are considered as an etiology of affective disorders. The free-running hypothesis of cyclic mood disorders, or the phase advanced hypothesis, phase instability hypothesis, and reduced amplitude hypothesis of depression were formulated to explain a variety of clinical and physiological phenomena found in affective disorders. A new therapy such as chronotherapy has been developed according to the hypothesized mechanisms of biological disturbances. Furthermore, antidepressant effects of antidepressants, sleep deprivation, and phototherapy have been discussed from a chronobiological point of view.
Yamada
N
N
Department of Psychiatry, Shiga University of Medical Science.
Takahashi
S
S
D001683:Biological Clocks; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy