Author/Editor		Pregelj, Peter
Title		Cirkadiani ritmi in depresija
Translated title		Circadian rhytmicity and depression
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 77, št. 11
Publication year		2008
Volume		str. 767-71
Language		slo
Abstract		Background Depression is the most common psychiatric syndrome treated on the primary level. Abnormal patterns of circadian rhythms are associated with a large variety of affective disorders including depression. Sleep disruption is one of the major symptoms in depression, with majority of patients with major depression reporting difficulties with their sleep. In humans, the »biological clock« is the site of generation of entrainment of circadian rhythms. It is located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus and is functionally interconnected with the melatonergic system. Melatonergic receptors type 1 and 2 participate in the regulation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus activity. When stimulated, receptors type 1 mediate the amplitude of the suprachiasmatic nucleus activity while receptors type 2 control phase shifting of the same activity. On the neurobiological level, depression is complex mood disorder that is also associated with the functional impairment of several central nervous systems including noradrenergic, serotonergic and dopaminergic transmitters and several hormonal systems. Conclusions There is a grooving evidence that dysfunction in circadian rhythm regulation and melatonergic system function is involved in depression pathogenesis. It is known that clinically used antidepressants have influence on melatonergic system, probably through changed ratio between melatonergic type 1 and 2 receptors. With the clinical use of new compounds like agomelatine that directly regulates melatonergic system new opportunities in depression treatment emerged.
Descriptors		STRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPRESSIVE DISORDER CIRCADIAN RHYTHM MELATONIN