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Updated: May 16, 2026

Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World
Published on: April 7, 2020
Premorbid circadian profile of patients with major depression and panic disorder
Giuseppe Bersani1, Francesco Saverio Bersani, Emiliano Prinzivalli
1Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Aims:
This study aims to compare some behavioural characteristics related to circadian functions in healthy subjects, in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and panic disorder (PD) during adulthood (disease period) and during the premorbid age (between 12 and 20 years old).
Methods:
132 adult patients with MDD, 144 with PD and 151 adult healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All subjects completed a retrospective questionnaire.
Results:
Several behaviours (such as falling asleep, awakening, having, appetite, perceiving energy and cognitive functioning) showed a phase delay or a phase advance in MDD and PD patients compared to healthy controls. Behavioural differences where found in patients even before the clinical onset of the disease.
Conclusions:
Circadian profiles of MDD and PD patients diverge from those of healthy controls not only during the disorder but also in the ages preceding its clinical onset. The analysis of these circadian patterns may aid physicians to early identify subjects with specific psychiatric vulnerabilities.
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