Neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms of circadian rhythm disruption in bipolar disorder: A critical multi-disciplinary literature review and agenda for future research from the ISBD task force on chronobiology

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Michael J. McCarthy - , University of California at San Diego, Department of Veterans Affairs (Author)
  • John F. Gottlieb - , Northwestern University (Author)
  • Robert Gonzalez - , Pennsylvania State University (Author)
  • Colleen A. McClung - , University of Pittsburgh (Author)
  • Lauren B. Alloy - , Temple University (Author)
  • Sean Cain - , Monash University (Author)
  • Davide Dulcis - , University of California at San Diego (Author)
  • Bruno Etain - , Université Paris Cité (Author)
  • Benicio N. Frey - , McMaster University (Author)
  • Corrado Garbazza - , University of Basel (Author)
  • Kyle D. Ketchesin - , University of Pittsburgh (Author)
  • Dominic Landgraf - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Heon Jeong Lee - , Korea University (Author)
  • Cynthia Marie-Claire - , Université Paris Cité (Author)
  • Robin Nusslock - , Northwestern University (Author)
  • Alessandra Porcu - , University of California at San Diego (Author)
  • Richard Porter - , University of Otago (Author)
  • Philipp Ritter - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Jan Scott - , Newcastle University (Author)
  • Daniel Smith - , University of Edinburgh (Author)
  • Holly A. Swartz - , University of Pittsburgh (Author)
  • Greg Murray - , Swinburne University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

Aim: Symptoms of bipolar disorder (BD) include changes in mood, activity, energy, sleep, and appetite. Since many of these processes are regulated by circadian function, circadian rhythm disturbance has been examined as a biological feature underlying BD. The International Society for Bipolar Disorders Chronobiology Task Force (CTF) was commissioned to review evidence for neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms pertinent to BD. Method: Drawing upon expertise in animal models, biomarkers, physiology, and behavior, CTF analyzed the relevant cross-disciplinary literature to precisely frame the discussion around circadian rhythm disruption in BD, highlight key findings, and for the first time integrate findings across levels of analysis to develop an internally consistent, coherent theoretical framework. Results: Evidence from multiple sources implicates the circadian system in mood regulation, with corresponding associations with BD diagnoses and mood-related traits reported across genetic, cellular, physiological, and behavioral domains. However, circadian disruption does not appear to be specific to BD and is present across a variety of high-risk, prodromal, and syndromic psychiatric disorders. Substantial variability and ambiguity among the definitions, concepts and assumptions underlying the research have limited replication and the emergence of consensus findings. Conclusions: Future research in circadian rhythms and its role in BD is warranted. Well-powered studies that carefully define associations between BD-related and chronobiologically-related constructs, and integrate across levels of analysis will be most illuminating.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)232-263
Number of pages32
JournalBipolar disorders
Volume24
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - May 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 34850507
ORCID /0000-0003-4286-5830/work/149796269

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • actigraphy, animal models, biomarker, chronobiology, circadian, clock gene, levels of analysis, light, lithium, sleep