Psychiatric aspects of jet lag: review and hypothesis

doi:10.1054/mehy.2000.1094

Medical Hypotheses

Volume 56, Issue 1, January 2001, Pages 20-23

https://doi.org/10.1054/mehy.2000.1094 Get rights and content

Abstract

Jet lag is a travel-induced circadian rhythm phenomenon that afflicts healthy individuals following long- distance flights through several time zones. The typical jet-lag manifestations – insomnia during local sleep time, day fatigue, reduced concentration, irritability, and exhaustion with mild depression – are attributed to transient desynchronization in the circadian rhythm until the internal biological clock is rephased to the new environmental conditions.

There is strong evidence relating affective disorders with circadian rhythm abnormalities. Less convincing suggestions relate jet lag to psychosis. It can be hypothesized that in predisposed individuals jet lag may play a role in triggering exacerbation or even de novo affective disorders. Furthermore, we propose the possibility that psychosis and even schizophrenia can be elicited by jet lag. This outlook gains its support from case studies and some common underlying phase-advanced biological denominators involved in both jet lag sufferers and psychotic patients.

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In addition, the well-known manifestation of jet lag when a person travels long-distance flights across several time zones, causes de-synchronization in the circadian rhythm. Symptoms associated with this phenomenon may include: sleep disturbances during local sleep time, day-time tiredness, impaired concentration, increased irritability, and also mild depression which all may persist until the circadian system is adjusted to the new environmental conditions (Katz et al., 2001). Interestingly, the same symptoms are often also observed in patients with ADHD and aggression.
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Regular ArticlePsychiatric aspects of jet lag: review and hypothesis

Abstract

Pharmac Ther

Biol Psychiatry

Biol Psychiatry

Compr Psychiatry

Compr Psychiatry

Lancet

Psychiatry Res

Biol Psychiatry

Physiological changes underlying jet lag

BMJ

Effects of travel across time zones (jet lag) on exercise capacity and performance

Aviat Spac Environ Med

The effect of melatonin on jet lag after long haul flights

BMJ

Transient psychotic reactions during travel

Am J Psychiatry

A case of psychosis precipitated by confinement in long distance travel by train

Am J Psychiatry

Psychiatric behavior disorders at an international airport

Arch Envir Health

Three years experience in passenger medical care at Taipai International Airport

Aerosp Med

Geographical flight and its relation to crisis theory

Am J Orthopsychiatry

Airport wandering as a psychotic symptom

Psychiatria Clin

Psychiatric hospitalization of tourists in Jerusalem

Compr Psychiatry

Reactive rhythms and endogenous clocks

Psychol Med

Depression and jet lag

Am J Psychiatry

Psychiatric morbidity and time zone changes: A study of patients from Heathrow airport

Br J Psychiatry

Regular Article
Psychiatric aspects of jet lag: review and hypothesis