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Cited by 288Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and related disordersNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

A Circadian Signal of Change of Season in Patients With Seasonal Affective Disorder

Wehr, Thomas A., Duncan, Wallace C., Sher, Leo, Aeschbach, Daniel, Schwartz, Paul J., Turner, Erick H., Postolache, Teodor T., Rosenthal, Norman E.·2001·Archives of General Psychiatry
DOI 10.1001/archpsyc.58.12.1108
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: In animals, the circadian pacemaker regulates seasonal changes in behavior by transmitting a signal of day length to other sites in the organism. The signal is expressed reciprocally in the duration of nocturnal melatonin secretion, which is longer in winter than in summer. We investigated whether such a signal could mediate the effects of change of season on patients with seasonal affective disorder. METHODS: The duration of melatonin secretion in constant dim light was measured in winter and in summer in 55 patients and 55 matched healthy volunteers. Levels of melatonin were measured in plasma samples that were obtained every 30 minutes for 24 hours in each season. RESULTS: Patients and volunteers responded differently to change of season. In patients, the duration of the nocturnal period of active melatonin secretion was longer in winter than in summer (9.0 +/- 1.3 vs 8.4 +/- 1.3 hours; P=.001) but in healthy volunteers there was no change (9.0 +/- 1.6 vs 8.9 +/- 1.2 hours; P=.5). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that patients with seasonal affective disorder generate a biological signal of change of season that is absent in healthy volunteers and that is similar to the signal that mammals use to regulate seasonal changes in their behavior. While not proving causality, this finding is consistent with the hypothesis that neural circuits that mediate the effects of seasonal changes in day length on mammalian behavior mediate effects of season and light treatment on seasonal affective disorder.

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  • Preliminary evidence indicates that these components may also regulate the timing of seasonal mood cycles in humans.

    “Preliminary evidence indicates that these components may also regulate the timing of seasonal mood cycles in humans22.”

    From Bipolar mood cycles associated with lunar entrainment of a circadian rhythm (2018) · cites this paper as [22]

  • In comparison to unaffected twins or healthy individuals, bipolar patients reported greater seasonal variation in sleep length and mood.

    “In comparison to unaffected twins or healthy individuals, bipolar patients reported greater seasonal variation in sleep length and mood Wehr et al., 2001).”

    From Biological rhythms, higher brain function, and behavior: Gaps, opportunities, and challenges (2009) · cites this paper as Wehr et al., 2001

  • In some studies, SAD sufferers have either a pronounced seasonal melatonin rhythm or more daytime melatonin specifically in the winter, while healthy control subjects have no seasonal alterations in their melatonin rhythms.

    “In some studies, SAD sufferers have been found to have either a pronounced seasonal melatonin rhythm, or more daytime melatonin specifically in the winter, while healthy control subjects have no seasonal alterations in their melatonin rhythms (Danilenko et al., 1994; Wehr et al., 2001).”

    From Circadian genes, rhythms and the biology of mood disorders (2007) · cites this paper as Wehr et al., 2001

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Authors
Wehr, T. A., Duncan, W. C., Sher, L., Aeschbach, D., Schwartz, P. J., Turner, E. H., Postolache, T. T., & Rosenthal, N. E.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
ORCID
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2001-12-01
Volume
58
Issue
12
Pages
1108
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.58.12.1108
OpenAlex
W2157680116
Cited by
288
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 20
FWCI
3.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
seasonal affective disorder, circadian pacemaker, seasonal variation, melatonin secretion, day length, circadian rhythm, phototherapy
MeSH terms
Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Hypothalamus, Male, Melatonin, Middle Aged, Nerve Net, Reference Values, Seasons, Seasonal Affective Disorder

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