Mood Related Disturbances of Circadian Rhythms Sleep-Wake Cycles and HPA Axis

Autonomous functions, especially the circadian rhythms of sleep-wake cycles and cortisol release, are significantly disturbed during depression. However, it is still unclear whether these circadian alterations are reliably linked with psychopathology and whether they provide clues to the underlying mechanism, in particular with respect to the neurotransmitter models of depression [8] and the CRH-overdrive hypothesis [29]. [Pg.207]

The significant meshing of the neuronal control areas for sleep and hormone release and their connections to mood relevant brain areas suggest that functional interdependencies also exist and that these also become evident in the system disturbances. The block diagram in Fig. 7.5 mainly emphasizes on the parts which are of particular relevance for those autonomous parameters which are the most clearly accessible markers of mental disorders the increased blood cortisol level and changes of the sleep EEG pattern. [Pg.207]

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