Abstract
The social zeitgeber theory offers an explanation of how life events trigger depressive episodes. According to this theory, life stress leads to mood episodes by causing disruptions in individuals’ social routines and, in turn, their biological circadian rhythms.
In this article is also reviewed the evidence that this theory may be applied to (hypo)manic episodes and whether circadian rhythm disruptions are triggered by an internal mechanism, such as an abnormality in one’s pacemaker (the suprachiasmatic nucleus). Interpersonal therapy and therapy of social rhythms (IPRST) are the clinical implications of social zeitgebers theory.
Furthermore, the new pharmacologic approaches, such as new antidepressant agomelatin, based on restoration of dysrupted circadian rhythms, can contribute to clinical profit for depressive patients, including the positive effect on remission.