Circadian depression: 1 in 4 cases of depression happens due to body-clock disruptions, Australian study finds

Sleep disturbances have always been part of the conversation about depression, but most people see them as just a consequence of feeling low. What if disrupted sleep-wake cycles actually play a much bigger, more central role in certain forms of depression? That idea is grabbing attention, thanks to new research from Australian scientists who think they’ve uncovered a distinct subtype called “circadian depression.”What’s happening?Published in The British Journal of Psychiatry recently, a huge Australian study analysed clinical and genetic information from more than 11,000 Aussies with severe, recurrent or persistent depression. About 23% of folks with tough-to-treat depression appear to fit the profile for circadian depression, which means their sleep schedules are out of whack, they’re stuck with morning fatigue, and they tend to be night owls who just can’t get to sleep (or wake up) at conventional hours.