Citation

Varinthra P, Liu IY. Ci Ji Yi Xue Za Zhi 2019; 31(2): 67-72.

Affiliation

Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, Publisher Wolters Kluwer - Medknow)

DOI

10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_181_18

PMID

31007484

PMCID

PMC6450147

Abstract

Depression is a life-threatening psychiatric disorder and a major public health concern worldwide with an incidence of 5% and a lifetime prevalence of 15%-20%. It is related with the social disability, decreased quality of life, and a high incidence of suicide. Along with increased depressive cases, health care cost in treating patients suffering from depression has also surged. Previous evidence have reported that depressed patients often exhibit altered circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythm involves physical, mental, and behavioral changes in a daily cycle, and is controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus in responding to light and darkness in an environment. Circadian rhythm disturbance in depressive patients causes early morning waking, sleep disturbances, diurnal mood variation, changes of the mean core temperature, endocrine release, and metabolic functions. Many medical interventions have been used to treat depression; however, several adverse effects are noted. This article reviews the types, causes of depression, mechanism of circadian rhythm, and the relationship between circadian rhythm disturbance with depression. Pharmaceutical and alternative interventions used to treat depressed patients are also discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

Antidepressants; Chronotherapy; Circadian rhythm; Clock genes; Depression