Circadian biology to advance therapeutics for mood disorders

Abstract

Mood disorders account for a significant global disease burden, and pharmacological innovation is needed as existing medications are suboptimal. A wide range of evidence implicates circadian and sleep dysfunction in the pathogenesis of mood disorders, and there is growing interest in these chronobiological pathways as a focus for treatment innovation. We review contemporary evidence in three promising areas in circadian-clock-based therapeutics in mood disorders: targeting the circadian system informed by mechanistic molecular advances; time-tailoring of medications; and personalizing treatment using circadian parameters. We also consider the limitations and challenges in accelerating the development of new circadian-informed pharmacotherapies for mood disorders.

Keywords: bipolar disorder; chronomedicine; circadian rhythm; depression; mental health; personalized therapy.