Diurnal variation of depressive symptoms

Figures & data

Figure 1. Influence of a 2-h phase advance of sleep in darkness on the circadian rhythm of mood (100-mm visual analogue scale) as measured under a 26-hour constant routine protocol (N=10 healthy young men, crossover design): mood dropped suddenly in the evening and remained low throughout the night. Redrawn from ref 9.

Figure 2. Mood changes (100-mm visual analogue scale) across a 40-hour constant routine protocol (= total sleep deprivation) in control middle-aged women (N=8) and women with winter depression (N=11). Both groups show a circadian rhythm; in addition, patients improve on the second day after sleep deprivation. (Wirz-Justice, unpublished data).

Figure 3. Course of mood as assayed by the Adjective Mood Scale completed at 2-hour intervals throughout six 20-h days (forced desynchrony protocol) in healthy subjects. Analysis of the sleepwake and circadian clock-related components reveals the strong physiological components underlying subjective mood. Redrawn from ref 14.