A new study has revealed that the transition to daylight saving time can cause serious health risks by disrupting the sleep patterns of people, especially those with mental health issues.
elchi reports that a new study investigating the impact of daylight saving time on mental health has shown that changing clocks twice a year can pose significant risks, particularly for individuals with chronic mental illnesses.
Daylight saving time, practiced in more than 70 countries around the world, involves moving clocks forward one hour in the spring and back one hour in the autumn. This practice, which aims to make better use of daylight, has long been debated due to its potential to disrupt the body’s natural biological clock, or circadian rhythm.
A new study compiled the results of 60 studies published in the fields of psychiatry, neurology, and public health. The review concluded that clock changes create circadian stress among the general population and that some groups are more affected than others.
Risks to mental health exist
According to the researchers, individuals with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and psychotic disorders are at higher risk in the days and weeks following the time change.
Elizabeth England-Kennedy, one of the study’s authors, stated that there is strong evidence that the transition to daylight saving time disrupts the circadian rhythm in people experiencing sleep and mental health problems.
Co-author Kavita Batra commented: “We change the clocks overnight, but the brain cannot adapt that quickly. This can affect sleep, emotional regulation, cognitive functions, and mental balance.”
Researchers noted that the transition to daylight saving time is associated with sleep disturbances, attention and memory problems, an increase in depressive symptoms, and an increased risk of manic episodes in some people.
Experts urged healthcare professionals to inform patients before the time change and guide them to gradually adjust their sleep patterns. It was also stated that exposure to bright light in the morning hours can help reset the biological clock. According to the researchers, permanent standard time may be more beneficial for public health than permanent daylight saving time, as it is more synchronized with natural morning light.
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