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Manipulating melatonin in managing mood
Author(s) -
Boyce P.,
Hopwood M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/acps.12175
Subject(s) - melatonin , agomelatine , circadian rhythm , suprachiasmatic nucleus , antidepressant , dark therapy , chronobiology , sleep deprivation , endocrinology , chronotherapy (sleep phase) , psychology , medicine , melatonin receptor , light effects on circadian rhythm , mood , light therapy , mood disorders , neuroscience , psychiatry , anxiety , hippocampus
Objective Disturbances in circadian rhythms have been associated with major depression and may be an underlying mechanism for the disorder. Resynchronisation of circadian rhythms may provide a new approach to treatment, especially by manipulating melatonin secretion. Melatonin is secreted at night and is a stable marker of circadian rhythms. The timing of its secretion can be changed by exogenous melatonin, agonism of specific melatonin receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, its suppression by light and by sleep deprivation. Method As part of a series of papers [‘Chronobiology of mood disorders’ Malhi & Kuiper. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2013; 128 (Suppl. 444): 2–15; and ‘Getting depression clinical practice guidelines right: time for change?’ Kuiper et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2013; 128 (Suppl. 444): 24–30.] addressing chronobiology, in this article, we conducted a selective review of studies that have examined the antidepressant effects of exogenous melatonin, light therapy, sleep deprivation and melatonin receptor agonists. Results Antidepressant effects were identified for bright light therapy, especially for seasonal affective disorder; sleep deprivation, although its antidepressant effect is time limited; and for the novel antidepressant agomelatine with agonistic properties for the MT 1 and MT 2 receptors and antagonism of 5HT 2c receptor. The role of melatonin as an antidepressant has yet to be demonstrated. Conclusion Shifting the circadian secretion of melatonin using the strategies reviewed offers a new approach to treating depression.