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. 2017 Dec;136(6):571-582.
doi: 10.1111/acps.12772. Epub 2017 Jul 19.

Solar insolation in springtime influences age of onset of bipolar I disorder

M Bauer  1 , T Glenn  2 , M Alda  3 , M A Aleksandrovich  4 , O A Andreassen  5 , E Angelopoulos  6 , R Ardau  7 , Y Ayhan  8 , C Baethge  9 , S R Bharathram  10 , R Bauer  1 , B T Baune  11 , C Becerra-Palars  12 , F Bellivier  13 , R H Belmaker  14 , M Berk  15   16 , Y Bersudsky  14 , Ş Bicakci  8 , H Birabwa-Oketcho  17 , T D Bjella  5 , L Bossini  18 , J Cabrera  19 , E Y W Cheung  20 , M Del Zompo  7 , S Dodd  15   21 , M Donix  1 , B Etain  13 , A Fagiolini  18 , K N Fountoulakis  22 , M A Frye  23 , A Gonzalez-Pinto  24 , J F Gottlieb  25 , P Grof  26 , H Harima  27 , C Henry  28 , E T Isometsä  29   30 , S Janno  31 , F Kapczinski  32 , M Kardell  33 , S Khaldi  34 , S Kliwicki  35 , B König  36 , T L Kot  37 , R Krogh  38 , M Kunz  32 , B Lafer  39 , M Landén  40   41 , E R Larsen  38 , U Lewitzka  1 , R W Licht  42   43 , C Lopez-Jaramillo  44 , G MacQueen  45 , M Manchia  46 , W Marsh  47 , M Martinez-Cengotitabengoa  24 , I Melle  5 , F Meza-Urzúa  12 , M Yee Ming  48 , S Monteith  49 , G Morken  50   51 , E Mosca  7 , R Munoz  52 , S V Mythri  53 , F Nacef  54 , R K Nadella  10 , F G Nery  39 , R E Nielsen  42   43 , C O'Donovan  3 , A Omrani  55 , Y Osher  14 , H Østermark Sørensen  42 , U Ouali  54 , Y Pica Ruiz  56 , M Pilhatsch  1 , M Pinna  57 , F D R da Ponte  32 , D Quiroz  58 , R Ramesar  59 , N Rasgon  60 , M S Reddy  53 , A Reif  61 , P Ritter  1 , J K Rybakowski  35 , K Sagduyu  62 , Â M Scippa  63 , E Severus  1 , C Simhandl  36 , D J Stein  64 , S Strejilevich  65 , M Subramaniam  66 , A H Sulaiman  67 , K Suominen  68 , H Tagata  27 , Y Tatebayashi  69 , L Tondo  70   71 , C Torrent  72 , A E Vaaler  50   51 , J Veeh  61 , E Vieta  72 , B Viswanath  10 , M Yoldi-Negrete  73 , M Zetin  74 , Y Zgueb  54 , P C Whybrow  75
Affiliations

Solar insolation in springtime influences age of onset of bipolar I disorder

M Bauer et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To confirm prior findings that the larger the maximum monthly increase in solar insolation in springtime, the younger the age of onset of bipolar disorder.

Method: Data were collected from 5536 patients at 50 sites in 32 countries on six continents. Onset occurred at 456 locations in 57 countries. Variables included solar insolation, birth-cohort, family history, polarity of first episode and country physician density.

Results: There was a significant, inverse association between the maximum monthly increase in solar insolation at the onset location, and the age of onset. This effect was reduced in those without a family history of mood disorders and with a first episode of mania rather than depression. The maximum monthly increase occurred in springtime. The youngest birth-cohort had the youngest age of onset. All prior relationships were confirmed using both the entire sample, and only the youngest birth-cohort (all estimated coefficients P < 0.001).

Conclusion: A large increase in springtime solar insolation may impact the onset of bipolar disorder, especially with a family history of mood disorders. Recent societal changes that affect light exposure (LED lighting, mobile devices backlit with LEDs) may influence adaptability to a springtime circadian challenge.

Keywords: bipolar disorder; circadian rhythm; epidemiology; solar insolation.

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