Maintaining Daily Routines to Stabilize Mood: Theory, Data, and Potential Intervention for Circadian Consequences of COVID-19
Greg Murray, John F. Gottlieb, Holly A. Swartz
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to trigger a global increase in mental health problems. One of the many pathways by which COVID-19-related social changes might impact mental health involves circadian disruption, the focus of this commentary. Circadian explanations of mood disorder are reviewed, highlighting the role of timed behavior (e.g., cross-day stability of light exposure) in stabilizing circadian function. We then present preliminary evidence that COVID-19-related social changes (particularly various lockdown protocols) have indeed impacted the timing of daily behaviors, which in turn correlate with levels of depression in a mood disorder sample. Finally, we argue for the importance of developing a digital self-management intervention to build “circadian resilience” for the COVID-19 environment and the beyond.