[Analysis of circadian temperature rhythm in endogenous depressive illness (author's transl)].

In long term studies on three endogenous depressive female patients, the circadian course of body temperature has been observed during depressive and manic episodes as well as during the intervals. The patients measured their oral temperature regularly, several times a day. The mathematical analysis, carried out with methods of digital signal processing using an interactive computer program system TIMESDIA, showed the following results: A period length of 24 h, independent on the state of mood. During depression and during mania, however, a greater variability of the daily temperature pattern was found, which resulted from changes of the phase relationship of higher harmonics.