Genetic Epidemiology, Translational Neurogenomics, Psychiatric Genetics and Statistical Genetics Laboratories investigate the pattern of disease in families, particularly identical and non-identical twins, to assess the relative importance of genes and environment in a variety of important health problems.
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PMID
42051568
TITLE
Clinical and genetic correlates of a circadian subtype of depression in the Australian Genetics of Depression Study.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND NlmCategory: BACKGROUND
While commonly accepted depressive subtypes reflect phenotypic differences, there has been minimal progress in identifying discrete pathophysiological pathways, biomarkers or differential therapeutic approaches which effectively guide clinical management.
AIMS NlmCategory: OBJECTIVE
While commonly accepted depressive subtypes reflect phenotypic differences, there has been minimal progress in identifying discrete pathophysiological pathways, biomarkers or differential therapeutic approaches which effectively guide clinical management. To test the biological validity and clinical utility of a circadian subtype of depression on the basis of clinical course, differential medication response (self-reported) and genetic risk profile.
METHODS NlmCategory: METHODS
While commonly accepted depressive subtypes reflect phenotypic differences, there has been minimal progress in identifying discrete pathophysiological pathways, biomarkers or differential therapeutic approaches which effectively guide clinical management. To test the biological validity and clinical utility of a circadian subtype of depression on the basis of clinical course, differential medication response (self-reported) and genetic risk profile. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the nationwide, genetically-informative Australian Genetics of Depression Study. Participants were classified as having a 'circadian' versus 'non-circadian' subtype of depression on the basis of meeting criteria for at least three binary circadian features: social jetlag, seasonality, delayed sleep midpoint, evening chronotype, sleep inertia, and hypersomnia. Clinical course characteristics were compared. Associations with response to commonly prescribed antidepressants and polygenic risk scores (PGS) for mental disorders and sleep, circadian, metabolic and inflammatory traits, were investigated using logistic regression models.
RESULTS NlmCategory: RESULTS
While commonly accepted depressive subtypes reflect phenotypic differences, there has been minimal progress in identifying discrete pathophysiological pathways, biomarkers or differential therapeutic approaches which effectively guide clinical management. To test the biological validity and clinical utility of a circadian subtype of depression on the basis of clinical course, differential medication response (self-reported) and genetic risk profile. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the nationwide, genetically-informative Australian Genetics of Depression Study. Participants were classified as having a 'circadian' versus 'non-circadian' subtype of depression on the basis of meeting criteria for at least three binary circadian features: social jetlag, seasonality, delayed sleep midpoint, evening chronotype, sleep inertia, and hypersomnia. Clinical course characteristics were compared. Associations with response to commonly prescribed antidepressants and polygenic risk scores (PGS) for mental disorders and sleep, circadian, metabolic and inflammatory traits, were investigated using logistic regression models. 2,604 participants (23%; 80% females; mean age=37.87, sd=13.62) had a circadian subtype. These cases reported an earlier age of onset (p<0.001), more severe clinical features including hypo/manic-like and psychotic-like experiences, suicidality, psychological distress and somatic complaints (p's<0.001), weight gain during depressive episodes (p<0.001), poorer response to SSRIs (OR=0.88 [0.82, 0.94]) and SNRIs (OR=0.89 [0.83, 0.97]) and more side-effects, compared to those with a non-circadian subtype. Having a circadian subtype was associated with higher PGS for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (OR=1.11 [1.06, 1.17]), major depression (OR=1.11 [1.06, 1.16]), bipolar disorder (OR=1.09 [1.04, 1.14]), body mass index (OR=1.09 [1.05, 1.14]), triglycerides (OR=1.10 [1.06, 1.16]), interleukin-6 (OR=1.08 [1.03, 1.13]), higher insulin resistance (OR=1.08 [1.04, 1.13]), later sleep midpoint (OR=1.15 [1.10, 1.21]), insomnia (OR=1.08 [1.03, 1.13]), and later chronotype (OR=0.68 [0.65, 0.71]).
CONCLUSION NlmCategory: CONCLUSIONS
While commonly accepted depressive subtypes reflect phenotypic differences, there has been minimal progress in identifying discrete pathophysiological pathways, biomarkers or differential therapeutic approaches which effectively guide clinical management. To test the biological validity and clinical utility of a circadian subtype of depression on the basis of clinical course, differential medication response (self-reported) and genetic risk profile. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the nationwide, genetically-informative Australian Genetics of Depression Study. Participants were classified as having a 'circadian' versus 'non-circadian' subtype of depression on the basis of meeting criteria for at least three binary circadian features: social jetlag, seasonality, delayed sleep midpoint, evening chronotype, sleep inertia, and hypersomnia. Clinical course characteristics were compared. Associations with response to commonly prescribed antidepressants and polygenic risk scores (PGS) for mental disorders and sleep, circadian, metabolic and inflammatory traits, were investigated using logistic regression models. 2,604 participants (23%; 80% females; mean age=37.87, sd=13.62) had a circadian subtype. These cases reported an earlier age of onset (p<0.001), more severe clinical features including hypo/manic-like and psychotic-like experiences, suicidality, psychological distress and somatic complaints (p's<0.001), weight gain during depressive episodes (p<0.001), poorer response to SSRIs (OR=0.88 [0.82, 0.94]) and SNRIs (OR=0.89 [0.83, 0.97]) and more side-effects, compared to those with a non-circadian subtype. Having a circadian subtype was associated with higher PGS for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (OR=1.11 [1.06, 1.17]), major depression (OR=1.11 [1.06, 1.16]), bipolar disorder (OR=1.09 [1.04, 1.14]), body mass index (OR=1.09 [1.05, 1.14]), triglycerides (OR=1.10 [1.06, 1.16]), interleukin-6 (OR=1.08 [1.03, 1.13]), higher insulin resistance (OR=1.08 [1.04, 1.13]), later sleep midpoint (OR=1.15 [1.10, 1.21]), insomnia (OR=1.08 [1.03, 1.13]), and later chronotype (OR=0.68 [0.65, 0.71]). These findings support the face validity and potential clinical utility of circadian subtype of depression as a clinical profile. Pending independent replication, investigation of its biology and predictive utility are warranted.
DATE PUBLISHED
2026 Feb 25
HISTORY
PUBSTATUS PUBSTATUSDATE
medline 2026/04/29 12:26
pubmed 2026/04/29 12:25
entrez 2026/04/29 04:47
pmc-release 2026/04/27
AUTHORS
NAME COLLECTIVENAME LASTNAME FORENAME INITIALS AFFILIATION AFFILIATIONINFO
Tonini E Tonini Emiliana E
Crouse JJ Crouse Jacob J JJ
Shin M Shin Mirim M
Carpenter JS Carpenter Joanne S JS
Mitchell BL Mitchell Brittany L BL
Byrne EM Byrne Enda M EM
Lind PA Lind Penelope A PA
Gordon SD Gordon Scott D SD
Parker R Parker Richard R
Hockey SJ Hockey Samuel J SJ
To T To Timothy T
Shim A Shim Andrew A
Hill A Hill Alexander A
Treneman A Treneman Anna A
Scott EM Scott Elizabeth M EM
Scott J Scott Jan J
Merikangas KR Merikangas Kathleen R KR
Wray NR Wray Naomi R NR
Martin NG Martin Nicholas G NG
Medland SE Medland Sarah E SE
Hickie IB Hickie Ian B IB
INVESTIGATORS
JOURNAL
VOLUME:
ISSUE:
TITLE: medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences
ISOABBREVIATION: medRxiv
YEAR: 2026
MONTH: Feb
DAY: 25
MEDLINEDATE:
SEASON:
CITEDMEDIUM: Internet
ISSN:
ISSNTYPE:
MEDLINE JOURNAL
MEDLINETA: medRxiv
COUNTRY: United States
ISSNLINKING:
NLMUNIQUEID: 101767986
PUBLICATION TYPE
PUBLICATIONTYPE TEXT
Journal Article
Preprint
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