Chronotype and Childhood Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

The chronotype, which reflects differences among individuals in daily activity patterns and sleep-wake cycles, is actually linked to being healthy. The most important factor that determines the chronotype is the environmental light-dark cycle. Chronotype is the study of classification as morning or evening types according to the physiological and genetic characteristics of the human. There are many factors that determine chronotypes. Although the evidence shows a negative picture for evening types, it should be emphasized that only eveningness cannot cause depression or other psychiatric disorders alone and additional effects may play a role. Conducting studies on mechanisms underlying the chronotype-psychopathology connection is important for interventions that can help reduce the incidence of psychiatric disorders in evening types; these interventions may include sleep training, dietary advice, and cognitive-behavioral techniques. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents and their relationship with the morning and evening types.