Scientists have discovered "circadian depression," a new subtype of disorder directly linked to malfunctioning of the internal biological clock.
Experts from the University of Sydney found that almost every fourth patient with major depressive disorders faces this form. People with this subtype can sleep 10-12 hours, have trouble waking up and still feel exhausted, but in the evening they suddenly have energy.
Key features of the new subtype.
Who is at risk: the condition often begins at a young age, progresses more severely and is accompanied by suicidal thoughts.
Key signs: To determine the subtype, you must meet three of six criteria—seasonality of symptoms, late falling asleep, hypersomnia, night owl chronotype, severe morning fatigue, and social jetlag.
Biological differences: Genetics have been shown to be associated with a tendency to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, metabolic traits, and inflammation, which differentiates this type from classic depression.
Standard antidepressants help less well here and have side effects more often. Researchers believe that patients benefit better from biorhythm adjustment methods such as light therapy, melatonin, morning sun and a strict routine.
The authors emphasize that for now we are only talking about the proposed approach, and not a separate accepted diagnosis - more research is needed to officially confirm this.
Read more about circadian rhythms and their effect here.
Pravda Gershchenko / Send Content / X / Bluesky / Eng Telegram / Threads.