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Circadian genes and bipolar disorder.
Hader A Mansour1, Timothy H Monk, Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, PA 15213, USA.
Annals of Medicine
|July 16, 2005
Summary
Bipolar disorder (BD) may stem from circadian rhythm disruptions. Researching circadian genes could help identify genetic links and subtypes of this complex illness.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Chronobiology
Background:
- Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic illness with a 1% lifetime risk.
- Genetic factors significantly contribute to BD, but complex inheritance patterns hinder gene mapping.
- Circadian rhythm disruption is prevalent in BD patients during relapse, suggesting a role in pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence supporting circadian dysfunction as a potential underlying mechanism in bipolar disorder.
- To explore the utility of circadian dysfunction as an endophenotype for BD.
- To discuss the implications for genetic research in bipolar disorder.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing evidence on circadian function in bipolar disorder.
- Discussion of the potential of circadian dysfunction as an endophenotype.
- Examination of genetic association studies involving circadian genes in BD.
Main Results:
- Growing evidence suggests a link between circadian dysfunction and bipolar disorder pathogenesis.
- Identifying circadian dysfunction as an endophenotype could aid in subgroup identification and genetic analysis.
- Association studies of circadian genes in BD have commenced.
Conclusions:
- Circadian dysfunction is a plausible etiological factor in bipolar disorder.
- Further research into circadian genes and their polymorphisms is warranted for BD genetic studies.
- Investigating circadian rhythms may offer new avenues for understanding and treating bipolar disorder.