Autorhythmometry in manic-depressives - PubMed (original) (raw)

Case Reports

. 1975 Oct-Dec;2(4):325-35.

Case Reports

Autorhythmometry in manic-depressives

M Atkinson et al. Chronobiologia. 1975 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Three manic-depressives were studied longitudinally. Several times a day, the patients measured and recorded their mood, vigor, oral temperature, finger counting, blood pressure, pulse rate, and urine volume. Then the acrophases of their circadian rhythms were computed by a least-squares fit. These patients displayed rhythm phases that were grossly abnormal. Systematic acrophase changes over time supported the hypothesis that manic-depressives have circadian rhythms that free-run faster than one cycle per 24 hrs. Lithium appeared to slow these rhythms and help the environmental synchronizer force physiological functions to coordinate better with the usual 24-h environmental cycles.

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