Change in diurnal temperature rhythm in manic-depressive illness.

The temperatures of six manic-depressive patients were taken every three hours consecutively for many weeks, covering at least one depressive and one manic episode in each patient. While the daily temperature curve was essentially normal in manic phases, with pronounced 24-hour rhythm, during depression the daytime temperatures appeared disorganised, often falling during the morning instead of rising, and with suggestions of a 12-hour rhythm. It may be useful to look on manic-depressive illness as resulting from a desynchronisation of circadian rhythms and to compare the pharmacologies of temperature regulation and mood regulation in psychosis.