title: Patterns of self-reported depressive symptoms in relation to morningness-eveningness in inpatients with a depressive disorder.
abstract: The stable and persisting preference for activities in the late evening (i.e. eveningness) is associated with a higher risk for depression, suicidality, and non-remission in major depression. The present study investigated symptom patterns in hospitalized patients with depressive syndromes in relation to morningness-eveningness (chronotypes). Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI-II]) and chronotype (German version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire [D-MEQ]) were assessed after admission and before discharge in inpatients with mainly major depression. Group differences of BDI-II single items and three BDI-II factors (cognitive, affective, somatic) between patients divided at the D-MEQ sample median into "morning preference" (MP) and "evening preference" (EP) were calculated. Data from 64 consecutively admitted patients (31MP/33EP) were analyzed. Both groups (MP/EP) were comparable regarding age, sex, diagnosis, length of stay, and subjective sleep quality, BDI-II scores were significantly higher in EP than in MP at admission. At admission and discharge, cognitive symptoms were significantly more pronounced in EP vs. MP; non-significant differences between EP and MP were found for affective and somatic symptoms. The results underline the importance of the trait-like chronotype for severity and symptomatology in patients with depressive disorders. The patients' chronotype should be taken into account in diagnostics and treatment of depressive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Vitos Clinical Centre for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Giessen-Marburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: mjmueller@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Matthias Johannes
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Vitos Clinical Centre for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Giessen-Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olschinski
authors.affiliation: Vitos Clinical Centre for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Giessen-Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kundermann
authors.affiliation: Vitos Clinical Centre for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Giessen-Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cabanel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chronotype; Cognitive symptoms; Eveningness; Major depression