What Is Diurnal Variation in Mood?

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While technically not a separate diagnosis fromclinical depression, diurnal mood variation is sometimes referred to as “morning depression.” Diurnal mood variation doesn’t appear as a unique entry in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual(DSM-5), though it’s considered a hallmark symptom of severe clinical depression(specifically the melancholic subtype).

The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested

Overview of Diurnal Variation in Mood

For those who have mild depression and other mood disorders, it’s not uncommon to experience symptoms at night. A person may have more energy and a better mood earlier in the day, withsymptoms of depression becoming worse at night.

People who experience diurnal mood variation typically feel the symptoms ofmelancholic depressionmost intensely in the morning and notice a gradual improvement as the day goes on.

People who are depressed may feel there is no clear reason for the mood changes they experience at certain times of the day. Unlike people who do not have depression, they may feel that they are unable to control the changes.

Studies have shown that people who don’t have depression may also experience similar fluctuations in mood. However, they usually report these fluctuations are in response to certain situations or influences.

The Most Common Types of Depression

Symptoms of Diurnal Variation in Mood

People who have depression with diurnal mood variation have a low mood and feel that their depression symptoms are at their worst in the morning, but they seem to get better throughout the day. In addition to characteristicclinical depression symptomslike profound sadness and low mood, people with diurnal mood variation may also:

Causes of Diurnal Variation in Mood

As with thecauses of clinical depression, the driving force behind diurnal mood variation isn’t completely understood. One theory is that the variations occur in response to circadian rhythms. Your circadian rhythm is the natural pattern of variations in wakefulness, body temperature, blood pressure, and hormone levels that your body goes through during a 24-hour day.

Even people who don’t have a mood disorder can experiencesleep troublebased on changes in their circadian rhythm. Therefore, it makes sense that these irregularities could contribute to symptoms of depression.

Research has also found that diurnal variation in mood is associated with an evening chronotype.Chronotyperefers to a person’s natural tendency to sleep and wake at certain times.

Causes and Risk Factors of Depression

Diagnosis of Diurnal Variation in Mood

Diurnal mood variation doesn’t have its own specific diagnostic criteria. People who experience it are usually diagnosed with major depression or a similar condition.

For example, some people withbipolar disorderexperience similar symptoms and may be misdiagnosed withunipolar depression.A professional assessment is vital to making the distinction, as these conditions require different treatments.

While your doctor or psychiatrist is evaluating you for depression or another mental health disorder, they will often ask questions about your sleep habits, as well as how your mood changes throughout the day. For example, they may ask if you are sleeping more or less than usual, how well you are sleeping, and if you feel better in the morning than in the afternoon or evening.

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How Depression Is Diagnosed

Treatment for Diurnal Variation in Mood

Light Therapy

It’s unclear if depression causes circadian rhythm disturbances or if disruption of one’s circadian rhythm contributes to depression. In either case,phototherapymay also help people with morning depression.

Also known as light therapy or lightbox therapy, phototherapy involves shining full-spectrum bright light that mimics natural outdoor light on your face while sitting the appropriate distance away from the light box. During phototherapy, you will either sit next to a lightbox or be fitted with visor designed to expose your eyes to artificial light that mimics natural daylight.

Light therapy is used to treat an array of medical and mental health conditions. These include bipolar disorder,schizoaffective disorder,premenstrual syndrome(PMS), and sleep disorders like insomnia.

Medications & Supplements

There are several differentclasses of antidepressant medicationsthat can be prescribed for depression. Research has suggested that some medications may be more effective at addressing morning depression than others.

Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate your body’s circadian rhythm. Some people find taking a melatonin supplement improves their sleep patterns and may help them cope with symptoms of morning depression.

Research has suggested that a specific atypical antidepressant called agomelatine, a synthetic form of melatonin, could be an effective treatment for depression with diurnal mood variation. However, as of 2019 agomelatine is not available in the United States. The drug is available in the United Kingdom where it is sold under the brand name Valdoxian.

If you or a loved one are struggling with diurnal mood or morning depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with diurnal mood or morning depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

An Overview of the Treatments for Depression

Coping With Diurnal Variation in Mood

If you experience morning depression, you may also find it helpful to try making some lifestyle changes to see if your symptoms improve, such as:

Tips for Living With Depression

A Word From Verywell

If you have depression, you may notice your symptoms seem worse at certain times of the day. While diurnal mood variation or morning depression isn’t a diagnosis in and of itself, it can be a symptom of major depression (specifically melancholic depression).

It’s important that you talk to your doctor or a mental health professional if yourecognize depression symptomsand they are impacting your daily life. Certain medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes may be able to help you cope with the fluctuations in your mood throughout the day. Together with your doctor, you can find what works best for you.

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14 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Speed T, DePaulo JR.Major Depressive Disorder. Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide.Wirz-justice A.Diurnal variation of depressive symptoms.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(3):337-43.Wefelmeyer T, Kuhs H.Diurnal mood variation in melancholic patients and healthy controls.Psychopathology. 1996;29(3):184-192. doi:10.1159/000284990Chen Z, Zhao S, Tian S, et al.Diurnal mood variation symptoms in major depressive disorder associated with evening chronotype: Evidence from a neuroimaging study.J Affect Disord. 2022;298(Pt A):151-159. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.087Courtet P, Olié E.Circadian dimension and severity of depression.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012;22 Suppl 3:S476-S481. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.07.009Monteleone P, Maj M.The circadian basis of mood disorders: Recent developments and treatment implications.European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008;18(10):701-711. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.06.007Feldman-Naim S, Turner E, Leibenluft E.Diurnal variation in the direction of mood switches in patients with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.J Clin Psychiatry. 1997;58(2):79-84. doi:10.4088/jcp.v58n0205Forty L, Smith D, Jones L et al.Clinical differences between bipolar and unipolar depression.British Journal of Psychiatry. 2008;192(5):388-389. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045294Murray G.Diurnal mood variation in depression: A signal of disturbed circadian function?.J Affect Disord. 2007;102(1-3):47-53. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2006.12.001Morris D, Trivedi M, Fava M et al.Diurnal mood variation in outpatients with major depressive disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2009;26(9):851-863. doi:10.1002/da.20557Kripke DF, Nievergelt CM, Tranah GJ, et al.Polymorphisms in melatonin synthesis pathways: possible influences on depression.J Circadian Rhythms. 2011;9:8. doi:10.1186/1740-3391-9-8Howland RH.A benefit-risk assessment of agomelatine in the treatment of major depression.Drug Saf. 2011;34(9):709-31. doi:10.2165/11593960-000000000-00000Fasipe OJ.The emergence of new antidepressants for clinical use: Agomelatine paradox versus other novel agents.IBRO Rep. 2019;6:95-110. doi:10.1016/j.ibror.2019.01.001Frais AT.Could positive diurnal variations in severe depression be the key factor for delivering effective cognitive behaviour therapy?.Med Hypotheses. 2009;72(6):677-8. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.01.027Additional ReadingGermain A, Kupfer DJ.Circadian rhythm disturbances in depression.Hum Psychopharmacol. Oct 2008;23(7):571-85. doi:10.1002/hup.964Smeraldi, E and Delmonte, D.Agomelatine in depression.Expert Opin Drug Saf.Nov, 2013;12(6):873-80. doi:10.1517/14740338.2013.828690

14 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Speed T, DePaulo JR.Major Depressive Disorder. Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide.Wirz-justice A.Diurnal variation of depressive symptoms.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(3):337-43.Wefelmeyer T, Kuhs H.Diurnal mood variation in melancholic patients and healthy controls.Psychopathology. 1996;29(3):184-192. doi:10.1159/000284990Chen Z, Zhao S, Tian S, et al.Diurnal mood variation symptoms in major depressive disorder associated with evening chronotype: Evidence from a neuroimaging study.J Affect Disord. 2022;298(Pt A):151-159. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.087Courtet P, Olié E.Circadian dimension and severity of depression.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012;22 Suppl 3:S476-S481. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.07.009Monteleone P, Maj M.The circadian basis of mood disorders: Recent developments and treatment implications.European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008;18(10):701-711. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.06.007Feldman-Naim S, Turner E, Leibenluft E.Diurnal variation in the direction of mood switches in patients with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.J Clin Psychiatry. 1997;58(2):79-84. doi:10.4088/jcp.v58n0205Forty L, Smith D, Jones L et al.Clinical differences between bipolar and unipolar depression.British Journal of Psychiatry. 2008;192(5):388-389. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045294Murray G.Diurnal mood variation in depression: A signal of disturbed circadian function?.J Affect Disord. 2007;102(1-3):47-53. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2006.12.001Morris D, Trivedi M, Fava M et al.Diurnal mood variation in outpatients with major depressive disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2009;26(9):851-863. doi:10.1002/da.20557Kripke DF, Nievergelt CM, Tranah GJ, et al.Polymorphisms in melatonin synthesis pathways: possible influences on depression.J Circadian Rhythms. 2011;9:8. doi:10.1186/1740-3391-9-8Howland RH.A benefit-risk assessment of agomelatine in the treatment of major depression.Drug Saf. 2011;34(9):709-31. doi:10.2165/11593960-000000000-00000Fasipe OJ.The emergence of new antidepressants for clinical use: Agomelatine paradox versus other novel agents.IBRO Rep. 2019;6:95-110. doi:10.1016/j.ibror.2019.01.001Frais AT.Could positive diurnal variations in severe depression be the key factor for delivering effective cognitive behaviour therapy?.Med Hypotheses. 2009;72(6):677-8. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.01.027Additional ReadingGermain A, Kupfer DJ.Circadian rhythm disturbances in depression.Hum Psychopharmacol. Oct 2008;23(7):571-85. doi:10.1002/hup.964Smeraldi, E and Delmonte, D.Agomelatine in depression.Expert Opin Drug Saf.Nov, 2013;12(6):873-80. doi:10.1517/14740338.2013.828690

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Speed T, DePaulo JR.Major Depressive Disorder. Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide.Wirz-justice A.Diurnal variation of depressive symptoms.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(3):337-43.Wefelmeyer T, Kuhs H.Diurnal mood variation in melancholic patients and healthy controls.Psychopathology. 1996;29(3):184-192. doi:10.1159/000284990Chen Z, Zhao S, Tian S, et al.Diurnal mood variation symptoms in major depressive disorder associated with evening chronotype: Evidence from a neuroimaging study.J Affect Disord. 2022;298(Pt A):151-159. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.087Courtet P, Olié E.Circadian dimension and severity of depression.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012;22 Suppl 3:S476-S481. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.07.009Monteleone P, Maj M.The circadian basis of mood disorders: Recent developments and treatment implications.European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008;18(10):701-711. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.06.007Feldman-Naim S, Turner E, Leibenluft E.Diurnal variation in the direction of mood switches in patients with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.J Clin Psychiatry. 1997;58(2):79-84. doi:10.4088/jcp.v58n0205Forty L, Smith D, Jones L et al.Clinical differences between bipolar and unipolar depression.British Journal of Psychiatry. 2008;192(5):388-389. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045294Murray G.Diurnal mood variation in depression: A signal of disturbed circadian function?.J Affect Disord. 2007;102(1-3):47-53. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2006.12.001Morris D, Trivedi M, Fava M et al.Diurnal mood variation in outpatients with major depressive disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2009;26(9):851-863. doi:10.1002/da.20557Kripke DF, Nievergelt CM, Tranah GJ, et al.Polymorphisms in melatonin synthesis pathways: possible influences on depression.J Circadian Rhythms. 2011;9:8. doi:10.1186/1740-3391-9-8Howland RH.A benefit-risk assessment of agomelatine in the treatment of major depression.Drug Saf. 2011;34(9):709-31. doi:10.2165/11593960-000000000-00000Fasipe OJ.The emergence of new antidepressants for clinical use: Agomelatine paradox versus other novel agents.IBRO Rep. 2019;6:95-110. doi:10.1016/j.ibror.2019.01.001Frais AT.Could positive diurnal variations in severe depression be the key factor for delivering effective cognitive behaviour therapy?.Med Hypotheses. 2009;72(6):677-8. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.01.027

Speed T, DePaulo JR.Major Depressive Disorder. Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide.

Wirz-justice A.Diurnal variation of depressive symptoms.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(3):337-43.

Wefelmeyer T, Kuhs H.Diurnal mood variation in melancholic patients and healthy controls.Psychopathology. 1996;29(3):184-192. doi:10.1159/000284990

Chen Z, Zhao S, Tian S, et al.Diurnal mood variation symptoms in major depressive disorder associated with evening chronotype: Evidence from a neuroimaging study.J Affect Disord. 2022;298(Pt A):151-159. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.087

Courtet P, Olié E.Circadian dimension and severity of depression.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012;22 Suppl 3:S476-S481. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.07.009

Monteleone P, Maj M.The circadian basis of mood disorders: Recent developments and treatment implications.European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008;18(10):701-711. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.06.007

Feldman-Naim S, Turner E, Leibenluft E.Diurnal variation in the direction of mood switches in patients with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.J Clin Psychiatry. 1997;58(2):79-84. doi:10.4088/jcp.v58n0205

Forty L, Smith D, Jones L et al.Clinical differences between bipolar and unipolar depression.British Journal of Psychiatry. 2008;192(5):388-389. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045294

Murray G.Diurnal mood variation in depression: A signal of disturbed circadian function?.J Affect Disord. 2007;102(1-3):47-53. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2006.12.001

Morris D, Trivedi M, Fava M et al.Diurnal mood variation in outpatients with major depressive disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2009;26(9):851-863. doi:10.1002/da.20557

Kripke DF, Nievergelt CM, Tranah GJ, et al.Polymorphisms in melatonin synthesis pathways: possible influences on depression.J Circadian Rhythms. 2011;9:8. doi:10.1186/1740-3391-9-8

Howland RH.A benefit-risk assessment of agomelatine in the treatment of major depression.Drug Saf. 2011;34(9):709-31. doi:10.2165/11593960-000000000-00000

Fasipe OJ.The emergence of new antidepressants for clinical use: Agomelatine paradox versus other novel agents.IBRO Rep. 2019;6:95-110. doi:10.1016/j.ibror.2019.01.001

Frais AT.Could positive diurnal variations in severe depression be the key factor for delivering effective cognitive behaviour therapy?.Med Hypotheses. 2009;72(6):677-8. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.01.027

Germain A, Kupfer DJ.Circadian rhythm disturbances in depression.Hum Psychopharmacol. Oct 2008;23(7):571-85. doi:10.1002/hup.964Smeraldi, E and Delmonte, D.Agomelatine in depression.Expert Opin Drug Saf.Nov, 2013;12(6):873-80. doi:10.1517/14740338.2013.828690

Germain A, Kupfer DJ.Circadian rhythm disturbances in depression.Hum Psychopharmacol. Oct 2008;23(7):571-85. doi:10.1002/hup.964

Smeraldi, E and Delmonte, D.Agomelatine in depression.Expert Opin Drug Saf.Nov, 2013;12(6):873-80. doi:10.1517/14740338.2013.828690

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