title: Chronobiology of bipolar disorder: therapeutic implication.
abstract: Multiple lines of evidence suggest that psychopathological symptoms of bipolar disorder arise in part from a malfunction of the circadian system, linking the disease with an abnormal internal timing. Alterations in circadian rhythms and sleep are core elements in the disorders, characterizing both mania and depression and having recently been shown during euthymia. Several human genetic studies have implicated specific genes that make up the genesis of circadian rhythms in the manifestation of mood disorders with polymorphisms in molecular clock genes not only showing an association with the disorder but having also been linked to its phenotypic particularities. Many medications used to treat the disorder, such as antidepressant and mood stabilizers, affect the circadian clock. Finally, circadian rhythms and sleep researches have been the starting point of the developing of chronobiological therapies. These interventions are safe, rapid and effective and they should be considered first-line strategies for bipolar depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy, dallaspezia.sara@hsr.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dallaspezia
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benedetti
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000235:genetics; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019454:Chronotherapy; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology; D055870:Drug Chronotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012890:Sleep
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds