The ticking clock of nature
The connection between the sleepless nights and a bad mood, the day after, might seem coincidental to some, but research shows numerous associations between poor sleep with mental health disorders like autism, ADHD, bipolar disorders, and many more. More so, out of 300 million people who have depression, 75% are insomniacs.
How are they related?
The circadian or biological clock is a built in 24-hour clock in human bodies. It not only controls when the body is at rest or awake, but it also has complete control over our metabolism and hormonal activity.
Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) early in life disrupts neurodevelopment and brings forth aging-related mental illness. CRD during pregnancy can have adverse outcomes on the offspring, leaving it with a higher risk of health and psychiatric diseases.
New research shows CRD is a psychopathology factor that was found to be common across a spectrum of mental illnesses.
Biological Clock and Mental Illnesses
Here are some of the mental illnesses associated with a disrupted circadian rhythm:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar disorder (BPD)
- Tourette syndrome
- Schizophrenia spectrum disorder
- Major depressive disorder (MDD)
- Anxiety disorder
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD)