The role of sleep problems and circadian clock genes in childhood psychiatric disorders.
CLOCK gene research and the analysis of circadian rhythmicity on the behavioural, cellular and molecular level are increasingly contributing to accumulate clinically relevant knowledge in the fields of neuroscience, psychopharmacology and adult psychiatry. However, the role of circadian phenomena, including sleep alterations in mental disorders during childhood and adolescence remains largely enigmatic. Fortunately, recent publications have addressed this problem and there is now some evidence available highlighting the relevance of CLOCK genes in conditions, such as ADHD, mood disorders, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders.
Cinic of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Neurology, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, 18147 Rostock, Germany. alexander.dueck@med.uni-rostock.de
Alexander
A
Dueck
Johannes
J
Thome
Frank
F
Haessler
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D056926:CLOCK Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*
D056926:CLOCK Proteins