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Spitschan M, Vidafar P, Cain SW, Phillips AJK, Lambert BC. Power Analysis for Human Melatonin Suppression Experiments. Clocks Sleep 2024; 6:114-128. [PMID: 38534797 DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep6010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In humans, the nocturnal secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland is suppressed by ocular exposure to light. In the laboratory, melatonin suppression is a biomarker for this neuroendocrine pathway. Recent work has found that individuals differ substantially in their melatonin-suppressive response to light, with the most sensitive individuals being up to 60 times more sensitive than the least sensitive individuals. Planning experiments with melatonin suppression as an outcome needs to incorporate these individual differences, particularly in common resource-limited scenarios where running within-subjects studies at multiple light levels is costly and resource-intensive and may not be feasible with respect to participant compliance. Here, we present a novel framework for virtual laboratory melatonin suppression experiments, incorporating a Bayesian statistical model. We provide a Shiny web app for power analyses that allows users to modify various experimental parameters (sample size, individual-level heterogeneity, statistical significance threshold, light levels), and simulate a systematic shift in sensitivity (e.g., due to a pharmacological or other intervention). Our framework helps experimenters to design compelling and robust studies, offering novel insights into the underlying biological variability in melatonin suppression relevant for practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Spitschan
- Department of Health and Sport Sciences, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, 80992 Munich, Germany
- TUM Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS), Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
- Max Planck Research Group Translational Sensory and Circadian Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Parisa Vidafar
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Sean W Cain
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Andrew J K Phillips
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Ben C Lambert
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3LB, UK
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2
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Chang MJ, Vidafar P, Birk JL, Shechter A. The relationship of shift work disorder with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. J Affect Disord Rep 2024; 15:100713. [PMID: 38288275 PMCID: PMC10824514 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Shift workers commonly suffer from disturbed sleep, which is known to affect mental health in other populations. Shift work disorder (SWD) is characterized by complaints of insomnia and/or excessive daytime sleepiness temporally associated with working non-standard schedules that occur during the usual time for sleep. Few studies have explored the extent to which workers with vs. without SWD experience worse mental health. We administered the Shift Work Disorder Screening Questionnaire to 60 adults engaged in various shift work schedules to categorize workers as being at high or low risk for SWD. Mental health outcomes were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Linear regression was performed for each DASS-21 subscale, adjusting for age, sex, shift type, sleep duration, and frequency of alcohol use. Most participants (55 %) were at high risk for SWD. High-risk participants had higher depressive symptoms than low-risk participants, B = 3.59, 95 % CI [0.54, 6.65], p = .02. The estimated value for those at high risk for SWD corresponded to clinically significant mild depressive symptoms, (M = 13.43), compared to those at low risk, (M = 9.84). High risk for SWD was marginally associated with increased stress symptoms, B = 2.48, 95 % CI [-0.06,5.02], p = .06. Our findings add to the body of evidence that SWD is associated with poor mental health outcomes. Providing interventions specific to the sleep impacts of SWD, including tailored cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, may improve shift workers' mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda J. Chang
- Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA
| | - Parisa Vidafar
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, Australia
| | - Jeffrey L. Birk
- Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA
| | - Ari Shechter
- Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA
- Center of Excellence for Sleep & Circadian Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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3
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Wong TR, Hickie IB, Carpenter JS, Scott EM, Guastella AJ, Vidafar P, Scott J, Hermens DF, Crouse JJ. Dynamic modelling of chronotype and hypo/manic and depressive symptoms in young people with emerging mental disorders. Chronobiol Int 2023; 40:699-709. [PMID: 37132360 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2023.2203241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
There is significant interest in the possible influence of chronotype on clinical states in young people with emerging mental disorders. We apply a dynamic approach (bivariate latent change score modelling) to examine the possible prospective influence of chronotype on depressive and hypo/manic symptoms in a youth cohort with predominantly depressive, bipolar, and psychotic disorders (N = 118; 14-30-years), who completed a baseline and follow-up assessment of these constructs (mean interval = 1.8-years). Our primary hypotheses were that greater baseline eveningness would predict increases in depressive but not hypo/manic symptoms. We found moderate to strong autoregressive effects for chronotype (β = -0.447 to -0.448, p < 0.001), depressive (β = -0.650, p < 0.001) and hypo/manic symptoms (β = -0.819, p < 0.001). Against our predictions, baseline chronotypes did not predict change in depressive (β = -0.016, p = 0.810) or hypo/manic symptoms (β = 0.077, p = 0.104). Similarly, the change in chronotype did not correlate with the change in depressive symptoms (β = -0.096, p = 0.295) nor did the change in chronotype and the change in hypo/manic symptoms (β = -0.166, p = 0.070). These data suggest that chronotypes may have low utility for predicting future hypo/manic and depressive symptoms in the short term, or that more frequent assessments over longer periods are needed to observe these associations. Future studies should test whether other circadian phenotypes (e.g. sleep-wake variability) are better indicators of illness course.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Jan Scott
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Australia
- Academic Psychiatry, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, UK
- Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Department of Mental Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Daniel F Hermens
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
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4
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Glozier N, Vidafar P. Disentangling what works best for whom in comorbidity. Sleep 2023; 46:6761665. [PMID: 36242774 PMCID: PMC9905774 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nick Glozier
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, Australia
| | - Parisa Vidafar
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, Australia
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5
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Vidafar P, Spitschan M. Light on Shedding: A Review of Sex and Menstrual Cycle Differences in the Physiological Effects of Light in Humans. J Biol Rhythms 2023; 38:15-33. [PMID: 36367137 PMCID: PMC9902977 DOI: 10.1177/07487304221126785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The human circadian system responds to light as low as 30 photopic lux. Furthermore, recent evidence shows that there are huge individual differences in light sensitivity, which may help to explain why some people are more susceptible to sleep and circadian disruption than others. The biological mechanisms underlying the differences in light sensitivity remain largely unknown. A key variable of interest in understanding these individual differences in light sensitivity is biological sex. It is possible that in humans, males and females differ in their sensitivity to light, but the evidence is inconclusive. This is in part due to the historic exclusion of women in biomedical research. Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle in women has often been cited as a confound by researchers. Attitudes, however, are changing with funding and publication agencies advocating for more inclusive research frameworks and mandating that women and minorities participate in scientific research studies. In this article, we distill the existing knowledge regarding the relationship between light and the menstrual cycle. There is some evidence of a relationship between light and the menstrual cycle, but the nature of this relationship seems dependent on the timing of the light source (sunlight, moonlight, and electric light at night). Light sensitivity may be influenced by biological sex and menstrual phase but there might not be any effect at all. To better understand the relationship between light, the circadian system, and the menstrual cycle, future research needs to be designed thoughtfully, conducted rigorously, and reported transparently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Vidafar
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Translational Sensory and Circadian Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Manuel Spitschan
- Translational Sensory and Circadian Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- TUM Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
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6
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Spitschan M, Santhi N, Ahluwalia A, Fischer D, Hunt L, Karp N, Lévi F, Pineda-Torra I, Vidafar P, White R. Science Forum: Sex differences and sex bias in human circadian and sleep physiology research. eLife 2022; 11:65419. [PMID: 35179486 PMCID: PMC8963875 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence shows that sex differences impact many facets of human biology. Here we review and discuss the impact of sex on human circadian and sleep physiology, and we uncover a data gap in the field investigating the non-visual effects of light in humans. A virtual workshop on the biomedical implications of sex differences in sleep and circadian physiology then led to the following imperatives for future research: (1) design research to be inclusive and accessible, (2) implement recruitment strategies that lead to a sex-balanced sample, (3) use data visualization to grasp the effect of sex, (4) implement statistical analyses that include sex as a factor and/or perform group analyses by sex, where possible, (5) make participant-level data open and available to facilitate future meta-analytic efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nayantara Santhi
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Amrita Ahluwalia
- William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dorothee Fischer
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Natasha Karp
- Data Sciences and Quantitative Biology, AstraZeneca, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Francis Lévi
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Warwick, United Kingdom
| | - Ines Pineda-Torra
- Centre for Cardiometabolic and Vascular Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Parisa Vidafar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
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7
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Vidafar P, Yocum AK, Han P, McInnis MG, Burgess HJ. Late chronotype predicts more depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder over a 5 year follow-up period. Int J Bipolar Disord 2021; 9:28. [PMID: 34468894 PMCID: PMC8410924 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-021-00233-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence that bipolar disorder is influenced by circadian timing, including the timing of sleep and waking activities. Previous studies in bipolar disorder have shown that people with later timed daily activities, also known as late chronotypes, are at higher risk for subsequent mood episodes over the following 12-18 months. However, these studies were limited to euthymic patients and smaller sample sizes. The aim of the current study was to further examine baseline chronotype as a potentially important predictor of mood-related outcomes in a larger sample of individuals with bipolar disorder and over the longest follow up period to date, of 5 years. Participants included 318 adults diagnosed with bipolar I and II (19-86 years) who were enrolled in the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder. RESULTS Participants with a late chronotype were found to be more likely to have mild to more severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) as captured with PHQ-9 assessments every 2 months over the 5 year follow up period. This higher risk for depressive symptoms remained even after adjusting for age, sex and mood at baseline. Additionally, late chronotypes reported fewer hypomania/mania episodes during the 5 year follow up, as derived from clinical interviews every two years. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight the potential clinical usefulness of a single self-report question, in identifying patients at risk for a more depressive mood course. The results also suggest that circadian phase advancing treatments, that can shift circadian timing earlier, should be explored as a means to reduce depressive symptoms in late chronotypes with bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Vidafar
- Sleep and Circadian Research Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Rachel Upjohn Building, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anastasia K Yocum
- Depression Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Peisong Han
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Melvin G McInnis
- Depression Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Helen J Burgess
- Sleep and Circadian Research Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Rachel Upjohn Building, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Depression Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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8
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Cain SW, McGlashan EM, Vidafar P, Mustafovska J, Curran SPN, Wang X, Mohamed A, Kalavally V, Phillips AJK. Evening home lighting adversely impacts the circadian system and sleep. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19110. [PMID: 33154450 PMCID: PMC7644684 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75622-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The regular rise and fall of the sun resulted in the development of 24-h rhythms in virtually all organisms. In an evolutionary heartbeat, humans have taken control of their light environment with electric light. Humans are highly sensitive to light, yet most people now use light until bedtime. We evaluated the impact of modern home lighting environments in relation to sleep and individual-level light sensitivity using a new wearable spectrophotometer. We found that nearly half of homes had bright enough light to suppress melatonin by 50%, but with a wide range of individual responses (0–87% suppression for the average home). Greater evening light relative to an individual’s average was associated with increased wakefulness after bedtime. Homes with energy-efficient lights had nearly double the melanopic illuminance of homes with incandescent lighting. These findings demonstrate that home lighting significantly affects sleep and the circadian system, but the impact of lighting for a specific individual in their home is highly unpredictable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean W Cain
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Elise M McGlashan
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Parisa Vidafar
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jona Mustafovska
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Simon P N Curran
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Xirun Wang
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anas Mohamed
- Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Vineetha Kalavally
- Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Andrew J K Phillips
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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9
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Coleman MY, McGlashan EM, Vidafar P, Phillips AJK, Cain SW. Advanced melatonin onset relative to sleep in women with unmedicated major depressive disorder. Chronobiol Int 2019; 36:1373-1383. [PMID: 31368377 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2019.1644652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Studies on circadian timing in depression have produced variable results, with some investigations suggesting phase advances and others phase delays. This variability may be attributable to differences in participant diagnosis, medication use, and methodology between studies. This study examined circadian timing in a sample of unmedicated women with and without unipolar major depressive disorder. Participants were aged 18-28 years, had no comorbid medical conditions, and were not taking medications. Eight women were experiencing a major depressive episode, nine had previously experienced an episode, and 31 were control participants with no history of mental illness. Following at least one week of actigraphic sleep monitoring, timing of salivary dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) was assessed in light of <1 lux. In currently depressed participants, melatonin onset occurred significantly earlier relative to sleep than in controls, with a large effect size. Earlier melatonin onset relative to sleep was also correlated with poorer mood for all participants. Our results indicate that during a unipolar major depressive episode, endogenous circadian phase is advanced relative to sleep time. This is consistent with the early-morning awakenings often seen in depression. Circadian misalignment may represent a precipitating or perpetuating factor that could be targeted for personalized treatment of major depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Y Coleman
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University , Clayton , Australia
| | - Elise M McGlashan
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University , Clayton , Australia
| | - Parisa Vidafar
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University , Clayton , Australia
| | - Andrew J K Phillips
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University , Clayton , Australia
| | - Sean W Cain
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University , Clayton , Australia
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10
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Vidafar P, Gooley JJ, Burns AC, Rajaratnam SMW, Rueger M, Van Reen E, Czeisler CA, Lockley SW, Cain SW. Increased vulnerability to attentional failure during acute sleep deprivation in women depends on menstrual phase. Sleep 2019; 41:5001277. [PMID: 29790961 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsy098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Study Objectives To investigate sex differences in the effect of sleep deprivation on performance, accounting for menstrual phase in women. Methods We examined alertness data from 124 healthy women and men (40 women, 84 men; aged 18-30 years) who maintained wakefulness for at least 30 hr in a laboratory setting using a constant routine protocol. Objective alertness was assessed every 2 hr using a 10 min psychomotor vigilance task. Subjective alertness was assessed every hour via the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. Results Women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle demonstrated the poorest level of performance. This poor performance was most pronounced at times corresponding to the typical sleep episode, demonstrating a window of vulnerability at night during this menstrual phase. At 24 hr awake, over 60 per cent of their responses were lapses of >500 ms and over one-third of their responses were longer lapses of at least 3 s in duration. Women in the luteal phase, however, were relatively protected from alertness failure, performing similar or better than both follicular-phase women and men. Conclusions These results have important implications for education and intervention programs for shift workers, specifically during times of vulnerability to attentional failure that increase risk of injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Vidafar
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Joshua J Gooley
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.,Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Angus C Burns
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Shantha M W Rajaratnam
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Melanie Rueger
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Eliza Van Reen
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Charles A Czeisler
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Steven W Lockley
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Sean W Cain
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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11
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McGlashan EM, Poudel GR, Vidafar P, Drummond SPA, Cain SW. Imaging Individual Differences in the Response of the Human Suprachiasmatic Area to Light. Front Neurol 2018; 9:1022. [PMID: 30555405 PMCID: PMC6281828 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.01022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian disruption is associated with poor health outcomes, including sleep and mood disorders. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus acts as the master biological clock in mammals, regulating circadian rhythms throughout the body. The clock is synchronized to the day/night cycle via retinal light exposure. The BOLD-fMRI response of the human suprachiasmatic area to light has been shown to be greater in the night than in the day, consistent with the known sensitivity of the clock to light at night. Whether the BOLD-fMRI response of the human suprachiasmatic area to light is related to a functional outcome has not been demonstrated. In a pilot study (n = 10), we investigated suprachiasmatic area activation in response to light in a 30 s block-paradigm of lights on (100 lux) and lights off (< 1 lux) using the BOLD-fMRI response, compared to each participant's melatonin suppression response to moderate indoor light (100 lux). We found a significant correlation between activation in the suprachiasmatic area in response to light in the scanner and melatonin suppression, with increased melatonin suppression being associated with increased suprachiasmatic area activation in response to the same light level. These preliminary findings are a first step toward using imaging techniques to measure individual differences in circadian light sensitivity, a measure that may have clinical relevance in understanding vulnerability in disorders that are influenced by circadian disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise M McGlashan
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Govinda R Poudel
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Sydney Imaging, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.,Mary Mackillop Institute of Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Parisa Vidafar
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sean P A Drummond
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sean W Cain
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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12
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McGlashan EM, Nandam LS, Vidafar P, Mansfield DR, Rajaratnam SMW, Cain SW. The SSRI citalopram increases the sensitivity of the human circadian system to light in an acute dose. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:3201-3209. [PMID: 30219986 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5019-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Disturbances of the circadian system are common in depression. Though they typically subside when depression is treated with antidepressants, the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. Despite being the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants, the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on the human circadian clock is not well understood. OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of the SSRI citalopram (30 mg) on the sensitivity of the human circadian system to light. METHODS This study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects, crossover design. Participants completed two melatonin suppression assessments in room level light (~ 100 lx), taking either a single dose of citalopram 30 mg or a placebo at the beginning of each light exposure. Melatonin suppression was calculated by comparing placebo and citalopram light exposure conditions to a dim light baseline. RESULTS A 47% increase in melatonin suppression was observed after administration of an acute dose of citalopram, with all participants showing more suppression after citalopram administration (large effect, d = 1.54). Further, melatonin onset occurred later under normal room light with citalopram compared to placebo. CONCLUSIONS Increased sensitivity of the circadian system to light could assist in explaining some of the inter-individual variability in antidepressant treatment responses, as it is likely to assist in recovery in some patients, while causing further disruption for others.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M McGlashan
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - L S Nandam
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - P Vidafar
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - D R Mansfield
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.,Monash Lung and Sleep, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - S M W Rajaratnam
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - S W Cain
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
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