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Using Chronobiological Phenotypes to Address Heterogeneity in Bipolar Disorder.
Robert Gonzalez1, Suzanne D Gonzalez1,2, Michael J McCarthy3,4
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
Molecular Neuropsychiatry
|May 14, 2020
Summary
Chronobiology, the study of biological rhythms, may help classify bipolar disorder (BD) by identifying biomarkers. This approach aims to create objective phenotypes for better diagnosis and treatment of BD.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychiatry
- Chronobiology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mood disorder with episodes of mania and depression, affecting sleep, energy, appetite, and cognition.
- BD symptoms are influenced by seasonal changes and circadian disruption, suggesting a role for the internal biological clock.
- The heterogeneity of BD, with overlapping symptoms and subtypes, complicates research, diagnosis, and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose chronobiologically related biomarkers for classifying BD into objective phenotypes.
- To address the heterogeneity challenge in BD research.
- To improve diagnostic stability and treatment outcomes for bipolar disorder.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing the biological basis of circadian timekeeping in humans.
- Discussing the established links between bipolar disorder and the circadian clock.
- Presenting recent studies evaluating chronobiological measures for BD phenotyping.
Main Results:
- Chronobiological factors are strongly linked to the circadian clock and influence BD symptoms.
- Existing research supports the evaluation of chronobiological measures for BD phenotyping.
- Biomarkers related to circadian rhythms offer a potential avenue for objective BD classification.
Conclusions:
- Chronobiology offers a promising framework for developing objective phenotypes in bipolar disorder.
- Future research integrating chronobiology with genomics, cell biology, and behavioral analyses is recommended.
- This approach may lead to more biologically based diagnoses and improved clinical outcomes for BD.
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