[Axillary temperature rhythms: the predominance of ultradian periodicity in major affective disorders]

Axillary temperature was recorded at least twice during a 48 hrs. span at 6 min. intervals in 10 hospitalized subjects with major affective disorders (DSM III 296. xx). During the clinical occurrence of acute symptoms 7 out of 10 subjects exhibited a prominent ultradian periodicity (period tau less than 20 hrs.) in their temperature time series. Whatever the used therapeutic mean (electroconvulsive therapy and/or chemotherapy) the improvement was associated with a circadian rhythmicity (20 hrs. less than or equal to tau less than or equal to 28 hrs.). A prominent temperature ultradian rhythm (which occurs only in the new born) could be the index of an internal desynchronization associated with major affective disorders.