Social Rhythm Disruption is Associated with Greater Depressive Symptoms in People with Mood Disorders: Findings from a Multinational Online Survey During COVID-19. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kahawage, Piyumi; Bullock, Ben; Meyer, Denny; Gottlieb, John; Crowe, Marie; Swartz, Holly A.; Yatham, Lakshmi N.; Inder, Maree; Porter, Richard J.; Nierenberg, Andrew A.; Meesters, Ybe; Gordijn, Marijke; Haarman, Bartholomeus C. M.; Murray, Greg
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of psychiatry =. Volume 67:Number 11(2022)
• Page Start: 832
• Page End: 841
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- depression -- mood disorders -- bipolar disorder -- circadian rhythm -- social rhythms; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Canada -- Periodicals; 616.8900971
• DOI: 10.1177/07067437221097905
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0706-7437

Abstract

Objectives: Societal restrictions imposed to prevent transmission of COVID-19 may challenge circadian-driven lifestyle behaviours, particularly amongst those vulnerable to mood disorders. The overarching aim of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that, in the routine-disrupted environment of the COVID-19, amongst a sample of people living with mood disorders, greater social rhythm disruption would be associated with more severe mood symptoms. Methods: We conducted a two-wave, multinational survey of 997 participants( M A g e = 39.75 ± 13.39, F e m a l e = 81.6 % ) who self-reported a mood disorder diagnosis (i.e., major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder). Respondents completed questionnaires assessing demographics, social rhythmicity (The Brief Social Rhythm Scale), depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), sleep quality and diurnal preference (The Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Mood questionnaire) and stressful life events during the COVID-19 pandemic (The Social Readjustment Rating Scale). Results: The majority of participants indicated COVID-19-related social disruption had affected the regularity of their daily routines to at least some extent ( n = 788, 79.1%). As hypothesised, lower social rhythmicity was associated with greater depressive symptoms when tested cross-sectionally (standardised β = −.25, t = −7.94, P = 0.000) and when tested using a 2-level hierarchical linear model across two time points ( b = −0.14, t = −3.46, df = 264, P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: These results are consistent with the social zeitgeber hypothesis proposing that mood disorders are sensitive to life events that disrupt social rhythms.