Night Owls May Be More Likely to Have This Type of Depression

Scientists have identified a new type of depression that can be blamed on disrupted sleep cycles. Known as "circadian depression," this disorder presents with some of the classic signs of depression, with a twist. Read on for the details of this specific type of depression.

Researchers Observe Depression Subset Linked to Circadian Rhythms

It has long been known that disruptions to the body's natural circadian rhythms translate to poor sleep. What is now being discovered is that these disruptions can also trigger depression. Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia published their findings in the British Journal of Psychiatry on October 20.

According to the researchers, almost 25% of the study participants were identified as having this depression subtype. Symptoms of circadian depression include identifying as a night owl, sleeping longer when feeling depressed, and waking up still feeling tired.

“Depression is not a uniform illness and understanding the characteristics of different subtypes mean that we can give people earlier access to treatments that will be most effective for them,” said author Dr. Emiliana Tonini from the Brain and Mind Centre. Her comments highlight that depression can come in many forms, making it difficult to diagnose with certainty in some cases.

The researchers noted that individuals with circadian depression were more likely to grapple with this mental health condition earlier in life. These sufferers also often presented with more severe symptoms, including suicidal ideation and manic thoughts. People identified as having circadian depression were at a higher risk of developing “inflammatory and cardiovascular health problems and major neurodevelopmental disorders,” including ADHD.

Unfortunately for those with this specific depression, the researchers found that antidepressants are not as effective when compared to more classic forms of the mental health issue. In addition, people with circadian depression are also more likely to experience side effects when on antidepressants.