ARNTL, CLOCK and PER3 polymorphisms - links with chronotype and affective dimensions

BMAL1-Potential Player of Aberrant Stress Response in Q31L Mice Model of Affective Disorders: Pilot Results

Dysregulation in the stress-response system as a result of genetical mutation can provoke the manifestation of affective disorders under stress conditions. Mutations in the human DISC1 gene is one of the main risk factors of affective disorders. It was known that DISC1 regulates a large number of proteins including BMAL1, which is involved in the regulation of glucocorticoid synthesis in the adrenal glands and the sensitivity of glucocorticoid receptor target genes. Male mice with a point mutation Q31L in the Disc1 gene were exposed to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS), after which the behavioral and physiological stress response assessed. To assess whether there were any changes in BMAL1 in key brain regions involved in the stress response, immunohistochemistry was applied. It was shown that the Q31L mice had an aberrant behavioral response, especially to the 2 weeks of CUS, which was expressed in unchanged motor activity, increased time of social interaction, and alterations in anxiety and fear-related behavior. Q31L males did not show an increase in blood corticosterone levels after CUS and a decrease in body weight. Immunohistochemical analysis in intact Q31L mice revealed a decrease in BMAL1 immunofluorescence in the CA1 hippocampal area and lateral habenula. Thus, the Q31L mutation of the Disc1 gene disrupts behavioral and physiological stress response and the BMAL1 dysregulation may underlie it, so this protein can act as a molecular target for the treatment of affective disorders.

Circadian rhythms and mood disorders: Time to see the light

The importance of time is ever prevalent in our world, and disruptions to the normal light/dark and sleep/wake cycle have now become the norm rather than the exception for a large part of it. All mood disorders, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BD), are strongly associated with abnormal sleep and circadian rhythms in a variety of physiological processes. Environmental disruptions to normal sleep/wake patterns, light/dark changes, and seasonal changes can precipitate episodes. Moreover, treatments that target the circadian system have proven to be therapeutic in certain cases. This review will summarize much of our current knowledge of how these disorders associate with specific circadian phenotypes, as well as the neuronal mechanisms that link the circadian clock with mood regulation. We also discuss what has been learned from therapies that target circadian rhythms and how we may use current knowledge to develop more individually designed treatments.

Role of polygenic risk scores in the association between chronotype and health risk behaviors

BACKGROUND

This study explores the association between chronotypes and adolescent health risk behaviors (HRBs) by testing how genetic background moderates these associations and clarifies the influence of chronotypes and polygenic risk score (PRS) on adolescent HRBs.

METHODS

Using VOS-viewer software to select the corresponding data, this study used knowledge domain mapping to identify and develop the research direction with respect to adolescent risk factor type. Next, DNA samples from 264 students were collected for low-depth whole-genome sequencing. The sequencing detected HRB risk loci, 49 single nucleotide polymorphisms based to significant SNP. Subsequently, PRSs were assessed and divided into low, moderate, and high genetic risk according to the tertiles and chronotypes and interaction models were constructed to evaluate the association of interaction effect and clustering of adolescent HRBs. The chronotypes and the association between CLOCK-PRS and HRBs were examined to explore the association between chronotypes and mental health and circadian CLOCK-PRS and HRBs.

RESULTS

Four prominent areas were displayed by clustering information fields in network and density visualization modes in VOS-viewer. The total score of evening chronotypes correlated with high-level clustering of HRBs in adolescents, co-occurrence, and mental health, and the difference was statistically significant. After controlling covariates, the results remained consistent. Three-way interactions between chronotype, age, and mental health were observed, and the differences were statistically significant. CLOCK-PRS was constructed to identify genetic susceptibility to the clustering of HRBs. The interaction of evening chronotypes and high genetic risk CLOCK-PRS was positively correlated with high-level clustering of HRBs and HRB co-occurrence in adolescents, and the difference was statistically significant. The interaction between the sub-dimensions of evening chronotypes and the high genetic CLOCK-PRS risk correlated with the outcome of the clustering of HRBs and HRB co-occurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The interaction of PRS and chronotype and the HRBs in adolescents appear to have an association, and the three-way interaction between the CLOCK-PRS, chronotype, and mental health plays important roles for HRBs in adolescents.

Circadian preference and mental health outcomes in youth: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Youth is a vulnerable developmental period associated with an increased preference for eveningness and risk for developing psychopathology. Growing evidence suggests a link between eveningness and poorer mental health outcomes, but the findings in the current literature are inconsistent, and a comprehensive synthesis of evidence in this area remains lacking. This meta-analysis aimed to 1) synthesise the existing evidence on the association between circadian preference and mental health outcomes in youths and 2) explore potential sleep-related factors that may moderate the relationship between circadian preference and mental health outcomes. A systematic search of five electronic databases resulted in 81 observational studies included in the review. Eveningness was found to be significantly associated with general mental health (r = 0.20), mood-related disturbances (r = 0.17), and anxiety problems (r = 0.13). The qualitative review also identified that eveningness was associated with greater risks for psychotic symptoms and maladaptive eating behaviours. These findings highlighted the need to consider circadian preference in the clinical management of youth mental health problems. Further research is needed to examine the efficacy of a circadian-focused intervention in the context of youth mental health.

The Mediation Effect of Peripheral Biomarkers of Calcium Metabolism and Chronotypes in Bipolar Disorder Psychopathology

Calcium (Ca++) metabolism may be impaired in several psychiatric diseases. We hypothesize that calcium imbalance might also correlate with a specific chronotype and could be recognized as a marker of illness severity in bipolar disorder (BD). We aimed to (1) identify the association between calcium imbalance and a specific chronotype in a cohort of BD patients, and (2) test the mediation role of high parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels towards a specific chronotype and illness severity in BD patients. Patients’ socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected with an ad-hoc schedule. We administered the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and the Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). 100 patients affected by BD were recruited. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference between the three MEQ groups in PTH levels (p < 0.001) and vitamin D levels (p = 0.048) but not in Ca++ levels (p = 0.426). Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner Pairwise analyses performed concerning three MEQ groups revealed significantly higher scores on PTH levels in MEQ-E subjects compared to MEQ-M and MEQ-I (in both cases, p < 0.001). No differences emerged between calcium levels among the three chronotypes. The mediation analysis has shown that elevated PTH levels are directly influenced by more severe HAM-A, HAM-D, and YMRS scores. MEQ-E could be a marker related to BD and predispose to various factors influencing mood symptoms. The combination of vitamin D therapy in MEQ-E may help to improve prognosis in this subtype of patients affected by BD.

Chronotype, circadian rhythm, and psychiatric disorders: Recent evidence and potential mechanisms

The circadian rhythm is crucial for physiological and behavioral functions. Chronotype, which represents individual preferences for activity and performance, is associated with human health issues, particularly psychiatric disorders. This narrative review, which focuses on the relationship between chronotype and mental disorders, provides an insight into the potential mechanism. Recent evidence indicates that (1) the evening chronotype is a risk factor for depressive disorders and substance use disorders, whereas the morning chronotype is a protective factor. (2) Evening chronotype individuals with bipolar disorder tend to have more severe symptoms and comorbidities. (3) The evening chronotype is only related to anxiety symptoms. (4) The relationship between chronotype and schizophrenia remains unclear, despite increasing evidence on their link. (5) The evening chronotype is significantly associated with eating disorders, with the majority of studies have focused on binge eating disorders. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms or influence factors are described in detail, including clock genes, brain characteristics, neuroendocrinology, the light/dark cycle, social factors, psychological factors, and sleep disorders. These findings provide the latest evidence on chronotypes and psychiatric disorders and serve as a valuable reference for researchers.

Toward a Molecular Approach to Chronotype Assessment

The aim of the present study was to develop a Polygenic Score-based model for molecular chronotype assessment. Questionnaire-based phenotypical chronotype assessment was used as a reference. In total, 54 extremely morning/morning (MM/M; 35 females, 39.7 ± 3.8 years) and 44 extremely evening/evening (EE/E; 20 females, 27.3 ± 7.7 years) individuals donated a buccal DNA sample for genotyping by sequencing of the entire genetic variability of 19 target genes known to be involved in circadian rhythmicity and/or sleep duration. Targeted genotyping was performed using the single primer enrichment technology and a specifically designed panel of 5526 primers. Among 2868 high-quality polymorphisms, a cross-validation approach lead to the identification of 83 chronotype predictive variants, including previously known and also novel chronotype-associated polymorphisms. A large (35 single-nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) and also a small (13 SNPs) panel were obtained, both with an estimated predictive validity of approximately 80%. Potential mechanistic hypotheses for the role of some of the newly identified variants in modulating chronotype are formulated. Once validated in independent populations encompassing the whole range of chronotypes, the identified panels might become useful within the setting of both circadian public health initiatives and precision medicine.

Gene expression analysis of MAOA and the clock gene ARNTL in individuals with bipolar disorder compared to healthy controls

INTRODUCTION

Circadian rhythms are associated with bipolar disorder (BD). This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating ARNTL and MAOA gene expression differences (1) between individuals with BD and controls, (2) between affective episodes, and (3) the relationship between ARNTL and MAOA expression.

METHODS

ARNTL and MAOA gene expression in peripheral mononuclear blood cells were analysed from fasting blood samples (BD n =  81, controls n = 54) with quantitative real-time PCR operating on TaqMan® assays (normalised to 18S RNA expression). ANCOVAs corrected for age, sex, body mass index, and medication was used to evaluate expression differences and correlation analyses for the relation between ARNTL and MAOA expression.

RESULTS

ARNTL gene expression differed between affective episodes (F(2,78) = 3.198, p = 0.047, Partial Eta2= 0.083), but not between BD and controls (n.s.). ARNTL and MAOA expression correlated positively in BD (r = 0.704, p < 0.001) and in controls (r = 0.932, p < 0.001). MAOA expression differed neither between BD and controls nor between affective episodes (n.s.).

DISCUSSION

Clock gene expression changes were observed in different affective states of BD. More precisely, ARNTL gene expression was significantly higher in euthymia than in depression. ARNTL and MAOA gene expression correlated significantly in BD and in controls, which emphasises the strong concatenation between circadian rhythms and neurotransmitter breakdown.

Evening chronotype as a bipolar feature among patients with major depressive disorder: the results of a pilot factor analysis

Objectives:

The bipolar spectrum concept has resulted in a paradigm shift that has affected both the diagnosis and therapy of mood disorders, with bipolarity becoming an indicator of treatment resistance in depression. Evening circadian preference has also been linked to affective disorders. The aim of our study was to confirm the relationship between the severity of depressive symptoms, bipolar features, chronotype, and sleep quality among patients with major depressive disorder.

Methods:

A group of 55 individuals who were recruited from a mental health outpatient clinic completed the following psychometric tools: a Chronotype Questionnaire comprising morningness-eveningness (ME) and subjective amplitude of the rhythm (AM) scales, the Hypomania Checklist 32 (HCL-32), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results:

Factor analysis identified two latent components, accounting cumulatively for 58% of variables: depressive symptoms (BDI and PSQI) and bipolarity (ME, AM, and HCL-32). After rotation, ME loading in the first factor increased the result to a significant level. The correlation between the two components was very low.

Conclusions:

Evening chronotype appears to be a bipolarity-related marker, with this relationship being independent of its link to depressive symptoms and sleep quality. Eveningness and high circadian rhythm amplitude may offer promise as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic predictors.

Alterations in CRY2 and PER3 gene expression associated with thalamic-limbic community structural abnormalities in patients with bipolar depression or unipolar depression

Objectives The current study aimed to identify shared and distinct brain structure abnormalities and their relationships with the expression of circadian genes in patients with bipolar or unipolar depression. Method A total of 93 subjects participated in this study, including 32 patients with bipolar depression (BDP), 26 patients with unipolar depression (UDP) and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Brain structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained, and optimized voxel-based morphometry was used to explore group differences in regional gray matter volume (GMV). The mRNA expression levels of circadian genes in peripheral blood were measured using reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results Our results showed that the GMV in brain regions in the thalamus-limbic pathways had significantly increased in the BDP patients compared to controls, while the increased GMV in UDP patients compared to controls was limited to the thalamus. The mRNA expression levels of circadian-related genes decreased significantly in patients with BDP, but increased in patients with UDP, compared to controls. In addition, the GMV in the right thalamus in the patients with UDP was positively associated with mRNA levels of CRY2, while the GMV in the right hippocampus in the patients with BDP was negatively associated with mRNA levels of PER3. Conclusion Our study suggested that patients with BDP or MDD shared GMV abnormalities in the right thalamus. The PER3 and CRY2 genes might be critical to right hippocampal dysfunction in BDP and right thalamic dysfunction in UDP, respectively. The result provided potentially important molecular targets for the treatment of mood disorders.

Circadian Rhythms in Mood Disorders

Altered behavioral rhythms are a fundamental diagnostic feature of mood disorders. Patients report worse subjective sleep and objective measures confirm this, implicating a role for circadian rhythm disruptions in mood disorder pathophysiology. Molecular clock gene mutations are associated with increased risk of mood disorder diagnosis and/or severity of symptoms, and mouse models of clock gene mutations have abnormal mood-related behaviors. The mechanism by which circadian rhythms contribute to mood disorders remains unknown, however, circadian rhythms regulate and are regulated by various biological systems that are abnormal in mood disorders and this interaction is theorized to be a key component of mood disorder pathophysiology. A growing body of evidence has begun defining how the interaction of circadian and neurotransmitter systems influences mood and behavior, including the role of current antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Additionally, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis interacts with both circadian and monoaminergic systems and may facilitate the contribution of environmental stressors to mood disorder pathophysiology. The central role of circadian rhythms in mood disorders has led to the development of chronotherapeutics, which are treatments designed specifically to target circadian rhythm regulators, such as sleep, light, and melatonin, to produce an antidepressant response.

Chronotype in individuals with schizophrenia: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Emerging evidence shows that evening chronotype is associated with mental health problems, especially mood disorders, but few studies have investigated its association with schizophrenia. Based on meta-analytic methods, we aimed to test whether eveningness is greater in individuals with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls and patients with bipolar I disorder.

METHOD

Medline/Pubmed, Google Scholar, and EBSCO databases were searched up to April 2021 for articles investigating chronotype in individuals with schizophrenia. Two meta-analyses were conducted: individuals with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls and individuals with bipolar I disorder. These meta-analyses were followed by a meta-regression controlling for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Five studies comprising 386 individuals with schizophrenia (age 32.73 years; 67.4% male), 320 with bipolar I disorder (age 31.26 years; 38.3% male) and 638 healthy controls (age 32.19 years; 50.6% male) were included. Participants with schizophrenia were moderately higher on eveningness than healthy controls but they did not differ from those with bipolar I disorder. The difference was not affected by gender, age, and the type of scale used for assessing chronotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with schizophrenia are more evening oriented than healthy controls and have a similar chronotype to those with bipolar I disorder. The results supported the hypothesis that evening chronotype might be a marker of, or a risk factor for, mental health problems in general and not just limited to affective disorders.

Molecular Evolution of clock Genes in Vertebrates

Circadian rhythms not only influence the overall daily routine of organisms but also directly affect life activities to varying degrees. Circadian locomotor output cycle kaput (Clock), the most critical gene in the circadian rhythm feedback system, plays an important role in the regulation of biological rhythms. Here, we aimed to elucidate the evolutionary history of the clock gene family in a taxonomically diverse set of vertebrates, providing novel insights into the evolution of the clock gene family based on 102 vertebrate genomes. Using genome-wide analysis, we extracted 264 clock sequences. In lobe-finned fishes and some basal non-teleost ray-finned fishes, only two clock isotypes were found (clock1 and clock2). However, the majority of teleosts possess three clock genes (two clock1 genes and one clock2 gene) owing to extra whole-genome duplication. The following syntenic analysis confirmed that clock1a, clock1b, and clock2 are conserved in teleost species. Interestingly, we discovered that osteoglossomorph fishes possess two clock2 genes. Moreover, protein sequence comparisons indicate that CLOCK protein changes among vertebrates were concentrated at the N-terminal and poly Q regions. We also performed a dN/dS analysis, and the results suggest that clock1 and clock2 may show distinct fates for duplicated genes between the lobe-finned and ray-finned fish clades. Collectively, these results provide a genome-wide insight into clock gene evolution in vertebrates.

Network of co-expressed circadian genes, childhood maltreatment and sleep quality in bipolar disorders

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and burdensome psychiatric disease, characterized by variations in mood and energy. The literature has consistently demonstrated an association between BD and childhood maltreatment (CM), and genetic variants of circadian genes have been associated with an increased vulnerability to develop BD. In this context, environmental factors such as CM may also contribute to the susceptibility to BD through alterations in the functioning of the biological clock linked to modifications of expression of circadian genes. In this study, we explored the associations between childhood maltreatment, sleep quality, and the level of expression of a comprehensive set of circadian genes in lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with BD. The sample consisted of 52 Caucasian euthymic patients with a diagnosis of BD type 1 or type 2. The exposure to CM was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. We measured the expression of 18 circadian genes using quantitative RT-PCR: ARNTL2, BHLHE40, BHLHE41, CLOCK, CRY1, CRY2, CSNK1D, CSNK1E, DBP, GSK3B, NPAS2, NR1D1, PER1, PER2, PER3, PPARGC1A, RORA, and RORB. Gene expression networks were analyzed with the disjoint graphs method. Compared to the other investigated transcripts, PPARGC1A was the only one whose expression level was differentially affected in patients who have experienced CM and, more specifically, physical abuse. We observed no significant effects of the other CTQ subscores (emotional and sexual abuses, physical and emotional neglects), nor of the sleep quality on the network of circadian genes expression. Although requiring replication in larger cohorts, the result obtained here is consistent with the hypothesis of an influence of CM exposure on circadian systems and highlights the importance of PPARGC1A in these processes.

Diurnal preference and depressive symptomatology: a meta-analysis

Eveningness, a preference for later sleep and rise times, has been associated with a number of negative outcomes in terms of both physical and mental health. A large body of evidence links eveningness to Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, to date, evidence quantifying this association is limited. The current meta-analysis included 43 effect sizes from a total 27,996 participants. Using a random-effects model it was demonstrated that eveningness is associated with a small effect size (Fisher's Z = - 2.4, 95% CI [- 0.27. - 0.21], p < 0.001). Substantial heterogeneity between studies was observed, with meta-regression analyses demonstrating a significant effect of mean age on the association between diurnal preference and depression. There was also evidence of potential publication bias as assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots and Egger's test. The association between diurnal preference and depression is small in magnitude and heterogenous. A better understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings linking diurnal preference to depression and suitably powered prospective studies that allow causal inference are required.

Chronotype and social support among student athletes: impact on depressive symptoms

Previous studies have shown individuals with evening chronotype to have a greater likelihood for depression (self-reported and clinical ratings), especially in young adults. However, the mechanisms for this relationship remain unknown. Low levels of social support may be a plausible mechanism: young adults with evening chronotypes are awake when others are sleeping, which may lead to feelings of isolation or low support. This study examined links between chronotype, depression, and social support in relationship subtypes within a group of university student athletes. Data were obtained from 189 NCAA Division-I student athletes across all sports. Chronotype was assessed with the Circadian Energy Scale and ranged from -2 (definitely morning type) to +2 (definitely evening type). Depressive symptoms were assessed with Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. Social support was assessed with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, which included subscales for Family, Friends, and Significant Other. A subscale for Team was created using the items from the Friends subscale (changing the word "friends" to "teammates"). Regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, and minority status. More evening chronotype was associated with higher reported depressive symptoms (p = .018), lower overall perceived social support (p = .001), and lower perceived social support specifically provided by family (p < .0001), friends (p < .0001), and teammates (p = .014). However, more evening chronotype was associated with higher depressive symptoms for higher, but not lower perceived social support from significant other. Moreover, chronotype-by-support interactions on depressive symptoms were observed; the statistical relationship between chronotype and depression was evident only in those with low (but not high) social support from friends and teammates. These data suggest that having a more evening chronotype may be associated with social isolation, and decreased opportunities for interactions with friends and teammates. This may contribute to the long-standing circadian association seen with depression in college student-athletes. Interventions aimed at increasing university support networks may reduce the impact of depression in students self-identifying with later chronotypes and sleep schedules.

The effect of age and chronotype on seasonality, sleep problems, and mood

Seasonal affective disorder has been associated with sleep problems, young age, and an evening chronotype. A chronotype refers to an individual's preference in the timing of their sleep-wake cycle, as well as the time during the sleep-wake cycle when a person is most alert and energetic. Seasonality refers to season-dependent fluctuations in sleep length, social activity, mood, weight, appetite, and energy level. Evening chronotype is more common in young adults and morning chronotype more common in the elderly. This study aimed to estimate the differential contribution of chronotype and age on seasonality. A sample of n=410 participants were included in the study. The age groups showed significantly different results according to sleep parameters, depression, anxiety, stress, seasonality, and chronotype. The oldest group (>59 years) showed the lowest scores on all of these scales. According to a path analysis, chronotype and age predict propensity for seasonality. However, sleep problems were linked to chronotype but not to age. Older adults seem to be more resistant to seasonal changes that are perceived as a problem than young and middle aged adults. Future studies would benefit from considering cultural aspects and examine seasonality, chronotype, depression, and insomnia in longitudinal designs.

Investigation of gene-gene interactions of clock genes for chronotype in a healthy Korean population

Chronotype is an important moderator of psychiatric illnesses, which seems to be controlled in some part by genetic factors. Clock genes are the most relevant genes for chronotype. In addition to the roles of individual genes, gene-gene interactions of clock genes substantially contribute to chronotype. We investigated genetic associations and gene-gene interactions of the clock genes BHLHB2, CLOCK, CSNK1E, NR1D1, PER1, PER2, PER3, and TIMELESS for chronotype in 1293 healthy Korean individuals. Regression analysis was conducted to find associations between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and chronotype. For gene-gene interaction analyses, the quantitative multifactor dimensionality reduction (QMDR) method, a nonparametric model-free method for quantitative phenotypes, were performed. No individual SNP or haplotype showed a significant association with chronotype by both regression analysis and single-locus model of QMDR. QMDR analysis identified NR1D1 rs2314339 and TIMELESS rs4630333 as the best SNP pairs among two-locus interaction models associated with chronotype (cross-validation consistency [CVC] = 8/10, p = 0.041). For the three-locus interaction model, the SNP combination of NR1D1 rs2314339, TIMELESS rs4630333, and PER3 rs228669 showed the best results (CVC = 4/10, p < 0.001). However, because the mean differences between genotype combinations were minor, the clinical roles of clock gene interactions are unlikely to be critical.

Relationships Among Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, Emotional Dysregulation, and Affective Temperaments in Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Cyclothymia

This study aims to explore the relationships between delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) and emotional dysregulation in 240 patients (134 with cyclothymia, 81 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and 25 with both conditions). DSPD was assessed using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, followed by a clinical evaluation. Affective temperaments and emotional dysregulation were also investigated through the brief version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego and the Reactivity, Intensity, Polarity, Stability questionnaires, respectively. Clinical variables were compared in patients with and without DSPD, and a logistic regression model was used to identify the predictive value of the clinical characteristics on the presence of DSPD. DSPD patients (19% of the total sample) were significantly younger than patients without DSPD, showed an about 4 times higher lifetime history of comorbid ADHD and cyclothymia, and reported higher scores in the irritable and cyclothymic temperamental subscales and in the affective instability and impulsivity dimensions. In the multiple logistic regression, we found a negative predictive value of increasing age on the presence of DSPD, whereas comorbid cyclothymia and ADHD and cyclothymic temperament seem to represent risk factors for DSPD.

Chronotype and psychological distress among Chinese rural population: A moderated mediation model of sleep quality and age

PURPOSES

Evidence suggests evening-type individuals have a higher risk of reporting psychological distress than morning-type individuals. However, less is known regarding the underlying processes that might mediate or moderate this association among Chinese rural population. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of psychological distress, investigate whether sleep quality would mediate the association between chronotype and psychological distress and explore whether age would moderate the direct or indirect effect of the mediation model.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study utilized a sample of 884 rural residents from rural regions in Anqing City, Anhui Province, China. Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) were used to measure chronotype, sleep quality and psychological distress, respectively. MacKinnon's four-step procedure was employed to examine the mediation effect, while Hayes PROCESS macro (model 59) was used to perform the moderated mediation analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of psychological distress among Chinese rural population was 33.4%. The association between chronotype and psychological distress was partially mediated by sleep quality (indirect effect = - 0.05, 95% CI = [-0.08, -0.03]). In addition, age moderated the first stage (sleep quality-psychological distress) of the indirect effect, with the indirect effect being attenuated for older rural residents. As suggested by Johnson-Neyman technique, the association between sleep quality and psychological distress was only significant when the age of the participant was lower than 48.59.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of psychological distress among Chinese rural residents cannot be neglected. Interventions for the enhancement of sleep quality to prevent and reduce psychological distress should be prioritized to rural residents who are prone to eveningness, especially those who are younger.

Genetic Associations of Chronotype in the Finnish General Population

Individuals with a later chronotype (evening types) tend to have unhealthier behaviors and increased morbidity and mortality as compared with those with an earlier chronotype (morning types). However, the role of genetics in explaining evening types' adverse health and health behavior is unclear. Our aim was to study genetic associations of chronotype among 8433 Finns from the cross-sectional National FINRISK 2007 and 2012 studies. First, we studied associations between chronotype and 20 key clock genes with a candidate-gene approach and then performed a full genome-wide association study (GWAS) of chronotype. We also developed a genetic risk score (GRS) for chronotype based on 313 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have previously been associated with chronotype. Chronotype was assessed with a shortened version of Horne and Östberg's Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (sMEQ), and for comparison, we also used the single self-evaluation question on chronotype from the questionnaire. Linear and logistic regression was used for statistical analysis assuming additive effects. The clock gene analysis revealed 1 independent association signal within NR1D2 (lead SNP rs4131403) that was associated with chronotype (p < 0.05; as based on both chronotype assessment methods). The GWAS analysis did not yield any genome-wide significant associations (p > 5 × 10^-8). However, higher GRS was associated with evening chronotype (p < 0.001; as based on both chronotype assessment methods). In conclusion, our findings indicated novel genetic associations between chronotype and the NR1D2 clock gene, which has previously been associated with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, the GRS was able to capture the genetic aspect of chronotype in our study population. These findings expand our knowledge of the genetic basis of chronotype.

Angry night birds: Emotionality, activity and sociability temperament in adolescent chronotypes

There is growing interest in personality profiles associated with morningness-eveningness to foster an understanding of the behaviors and mental states of chronotypes. This study aimed to analyze the domains of emotionality, activity and sociability (EAS) temperament in relation to morningness-eveningness in adolescents. A sample of 539 school pupils aged 13-19 years completed the EAS Temperament Survey, the Composite Scale of Morningness and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Amongst the five EAS domains (emotionality-distress, emotionality-fearfulness, emotionality-anger, activity and sociability), greater emotionality-anger was related to eveningness, while greater emotionality-distress was related to lower social jet lag. The results suggest that evening chronotypes can be temperamentally inclined to anger. The possible mechanisms of this association are discussed.

Association between affective temperaments and mood features in bipolar disorder II: The role of insomnia and chronobiological rhythms desynchronization

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorders are complex disorders involving the interaction of multiple factors. Affective temperaments, insomnia, and chronobiological rhythms desynchronization may all contribute to bipolar disorder. Since there is a paucity of research examining this topic we aimed to study how they are interrelated and collectively associated with clinical features of bipolar disorder.

METHOD

One-hundred patients with Bipolar Disorder type II depressive episode with and without mixed features were recruited and compared. Subjects were evaluated with SCID -5, the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A) while evaluating depressive (Beck Depression Inventory-BDI-II) and manic (Young Mania Rating Scale-YMRS) symptoms. Logistic regression and mediation analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Subjects with mixed features showed a higher scores in both insomnia and chronobiological rhythms scores. When considering affective temperaments not only depressive, cyclothymic and irritable temperaments predicted mood symptoms but also insomnia (depressive symptoms O.R. 4.17, p = 0.043) and chronobiological sleep de-synchronization (manic symptoms O.R. 8.69, p = 0.001). Insomnia symptoms and chronobiological alterations mediated the association between affective temperaments and mood symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

the cross-sectional design limited any causal interpretation.

CONCLUSION

Subjects with mixed features showed a greater severity of insomnia and chronobiological rhythm de-synchronization compared to subjects without. Insomnia and chronobiological alterations may contribute to mood disorders together with affective temperaments in a complex interplay also mediating their effect on mood. Preventive strategies for bipolars should also act on the dysregulation of sleep and circadian rhythms.

Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Disorder in Bipolar Affective Disorder

Symptoms of affective disorders encompass a range of changes to biological processes such as sleep and appetite. These processes are regulated over a 24-h cycle known as the circadian rhythm. Sleep is a particularly useful marker of this rhythm as it is readily measurable and functionally significant. Sleep disturbance is common in bipolar affective disorder and may act as a marker, and precipitant, of relapse. Circadian rhythms are modulated by environmental and social cues and have been shown to be influenced by treatment in BPAD. As such understanding of circadian rhythms may lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of BPAD and its treatment. This chapter will explore the neurobiology of the circadian clock and the putative role of circadian rhythm dysregulation in the pathophysiology and treatment of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD).

Chronotype, social jetlag and sleep loss in relation to sex steroids

Chronotype describes preferences for functioning at different times of the day. At the onset of puberty, a sharp shift towards eveningness starts, reaching its peak at the end of adolescence, followed by a steady shift towards morningness as the ageing process occurs. Puberty is also the time when sex differences appear, with men being more inclined to eveningness than women, which diminishes around menopause; the described pattern of changes in chronotype leads to the hypothesis that reproductive hormones may be the driving factor behind this conversion. In the present study, we aimed to verify this hypothesis by analysing participants' testosterone, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels in the three months, as indicated by assays in 3-cm hair strands from the scalp. Participants (n = 239) of both sexes also completed the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. The results showed that in men higher testosterone levels were related to eveningness and less sleep loss, whereas greater sleep loss was associated with lower levels of DHEA. In women, no associations between chronotype and levels of the analysed hormones were found. The results support the hypothesis that testosterone levels play a role in shaping eveningness. We further hypothesised that a possible cause of the higher secretion level of testosterone in men with the evening chronotype is a mechanism to offset the negative consequences of sleep loss.

Objective and biological markers in bipolar spectrum presentations

INTRODUCTION

Subthreshold presentations of bipolarity (BSPs) pose a diagnostic conundrum, in terms of whether they should be conceptualized and treated similarly as traditionally defined bipolar disorders (BD). While it has been argued that BSPs are on a pathophysiologic continuum with traditionally defined BDs, there has been limited examination of biological and objective markers in these presentations to validate this assertion. Areas covered: The authors review studies examining genetic, neurobiological, cognitive and peripheral markers in BSPs, encompassing clinical and non-clinical populations with subthreshold hypo/manic symptoms. Results are placed in the context of previously identified markers in traditionally defined BDs. Expert commentary: There have been few studies of objective and biological markers in subthreshold presentations of BD, and results are mixed. While abnormalities in brain structure/functioning, peripheral inflammatory, and cognitive markers have been reported, it is unclear whether these findings are specific to BD or indicative of broad affective pathology. However, some studies suggest that increased sensitivity to reward and positive stimuli are shared between subthreshold and traditionally defined BDs, and may represent a point of departure from unipolar major depression. Further examination of such markers may improve understanding of subthreshold bipolar presentations, and provide guidance in terms of therapeutic strategies.

Chronotype and Mental Health: Recent Advances

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Evening chronotype is increasingly recognized as a correlate of, and perhaps a contributor to, mental illness. The current review evaluates recent evidence for the association between chronotype and mental illness and putative mechanisms underlying the association, while highlighting methodological advances and areas of research that are relatively under-examined in the literature.

RECENT FINDINGS

While evening chronotype is most consistently associated with severity of mood disorder symptoms, emerging evidence implicates evening chronotype as a transdiagnostic correlate of substance use severity, anxiety symptoms, attentional difficulties, and maladaptive behaviors such as aggression. Longitudinal studies point to the possibility that evening chronotype precedes problematic substance use, depression, and anxiety. Neural processes related to reward and affective regulation may underlie associations between evening chronotype and illness. The literature on chronotype and mental illness has evolved to (1) include associations with a broader range of psychiatric symptom profiles; (2) explore underlying mechanisms; and (3) expand on earlier research using objective measures and more sophisticated study designs. In addition to further mechanistic research, additional work is needed to examine the stability and key subcomponents of the chronotype construct, as well as more attention to pediatric and special populations. This research is needed to clarify the chronotype-mental health relationship, and to identify how, when, and what aspects of chronotype can be targeted via therapeutic interventions.

The role of affective temperaments assessed by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) in the relationship between morningness-eveningness and bipolarity

BACKGROUND

Growing number of studies indicates a link between eveningness chronotype, affective temperaments and bipolarity, both in patients with mood disorders and in general population. Given these tripartite associations, we hypothesized that the effect of circadian preferences on the bipolarity may be mediated by the temperamental traits.

METHODS

The study included 1449 subjects (402 men and 1047 women). They all fulfilled a web-based questionnaire, consisting of the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM), Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), Hypomania Checklist-32 (HCL-32) and the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). The role of temperamental traits in the relationship between morningness-eveningness and bipolarity was assessed using mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Morningness is correlated with lower bipolarity measured by the MDQ and HCL-32, and to lower scores of depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments of the TEMPS-A. There is no significant association between morningness and hyperthymic traits. Cyclothymic and irritable traits are full mediators of the association between chronotype and bipolarity, influencing bipolarity independently from circadian preferences. Depressive and anxious traits are partial mediators of this association, increasing the effect of eveningness on bipolarity.

LIMITATIONS

The indirectness of the findings in the web-based study and disproportion of participants' gender.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirmed that eveningness is associated with bipolarity. In case of depressive and anxious temperaments, bipolarity is associated stronger with eveningness than with the TEMPS-A scores. On the other hand, cyclothymic and irritable temperaments were associated with bipolarity independently from circadian preferences.