Our circadian rhythms play a salient role in controlling many aspects of our lives. Having a consistent sleep-wake cycle has various benefits such as maintaining a regular eating schedule, regulating healthy weight, reducing stress, and regulating mood. Individuals who do not have a set circadian rhythm may experience excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, memory and decision-making issues, as well as decreased focus throughout the day. In the article, “Circadian disruption and mental health,” Phyllis Zee et al., discuss how circadian disruption increases disease severity by using a bench-to-bedside approach.
The researchers discuss the cardiometabolic, neurological, psychiatric, and immune disorders that are affected by circadian disruption. A circadian disruption happens when something disrupts our 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. Disruption can result from social and work environments, light/dark exposure, timing of sleep and meals, to name a few. Often times, people who identify as night-owls tend to experience more disruption in their circadian rhythms due to work, school, personal, or social responsibilities during the daytime. All these factors that lead to circadian disruption are tightly linked to mood and mental health disorders. Researchers discuss how unregulated light exposure is closely related to depression and stress. Additionally, individuals experience schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and season affective disorder. During seasonal affective disorder, there is little light outside, which makes it an easier cause for disruption. One of the main factors that is at the stem of this issue is individuals being exposed to light at the wrong hours.
In another article, “Circadian rhythm disruption and human health,” by William H. Walker II et al., researchers discuss how over the past century the day and night boundaries have been obscured due to exposure of electrical light at night, and how this results in behavioral and psychiatric mental health issues. The researchers discuss how the major cue for individuals to distinguish between day and night is through light; so, exposure to light at night disrupts the body and mind’s perception of daytime and nighttime. This article also gives an example of seasonal affective disorder and how people may experience dysthymia in winter. Dysthymia is persistent depression disorder. In the summer, people may experience euthymia, which is a more “normal,” positive, state of mind. Researchers also say that circadian disruption is a “state marker” for bipolar disorder. In addition to this, they found that disrupted circadian rhythms can negatively affect patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This is due to dysregulation of the core clock genes that may not be the cause of schizophrenia but can affect the progression or worsen the severity of the illness.
Both articles discuss how circadian disruption can lead to various mental illnesses or worsen current ones for patients who have already been diagnosed. More specifically, both articles highlight exposure to light during nighttime. However, the article, “Circadian rhythm disruption and human health” offers a different approach to using electronic devices in a positive way. They state that these devices can be used to help treat some of the illnesses mentioned. The example of hand-held devices and wrist-worn devices is given, and that they could be used to monitor the psychiatric state of individuals using them.
References:
Fishbein, A. B., Knutson, K.L., & Zee, P.C. (2021). Circadian disruption and human health. Journal of Clinical Investigation
Walker, W.H., Walton, J.C., DeVries, A.C. et al. Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health. Transl Psychiatry 10, 28 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-0694-0
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