Abstract
The interplay between circadian rhythm disruption and mood disorders brings to life the complexity involved in comprehending the entangled nature of human experience, inviting us to look beyond surface-level symptoms and consider the broader impacts on daily life and well-being. Preliminary research indicates that, in addition to mood disorders such as depression being associated with unsettled natural rhythms, disrupted circadian processes can in themselves precipitate or intensify mood disorder symptoms (Fishbein et al., 2021; Walker et al., 2020).
Responding to the question, “Are sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances the cause or simply the consequence of depression or other mood disorder subtypes?” (Hickie et al., 2024), I will draw on both my subjective, lived experiences alongside published research to illustrate how these disturbances are rarely unidirectional. My analysis demonstrates the cyclical interplay of circadian processes and mood which makes it necessary to address both aspects concurrently in mental health science and clinical practice. More than this, subjective accounts such as my own make clear the need for treatment approaches - and research methodologies - that genuinely incorporate the perspectives of lived experience to capture the full complexity of intertwined phenomena.
