Cumulative Indicators of Circadian Rhythm Disturbance and its Clinical, Functional and Genetic Correlates in the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: ABSTRACT Background Circadian rhythm disturbances (CRDs) are transdiagnostic risk factors across mental disorders. We examined CRD-associated phenotypes, their heritability, and clinical, functional and genetic correlates, cross-sectionally, in young adults from the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study. Methods We assessed 2,773 community-based participants (25.6±4.1 years; 57.8% female). Six CRD-associated phenotypes (seasonality, hypersomnia, social jetlag, delayed sleep, evening preference, sleep inertia) were included. Associations of CRD-load (number of CRDs) with clinical and functional outcomes, and with polygenic risk scores (PRS) for mental health, physical health, and sleep/circadian traits, were tested using linear, negative binomial, or logistic regression, with family-clustered standard errors. Heritability of CRD-phenotypes was estimated using structural equation modelling. Results Almost half the sample (49.2%) reported experiencing ≥1 CRD-phenotype and 20.5% reported ≥2. Four CRD-phenotypes (hypersomnia, social jetlag, delayed sleep, evening preference) were significantly heritable (h 2 =0.19-0.48). Higher CRD-load was associated with greater psychological distress (β=0.96, p<0.001), more psychological symptoms (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.07-1.40), higher odds of a full-threshold mental disorder (OR=1.28, p<0.001), and greater functional impairment (days-in-bed, IRR=1.55; days-out-of-role, IRR=1.43). In genotyped participants (n=2,301), CRD-load was associated with mood-disorder PRS (major depression [OR=1.14, p=0.003] and bipolar disorder [OR=1.14, p=0.002]) but not PRSs for schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, neuroticism or anxiety. Trends towards increased PRSs for metabolic traits did not survive Bonferroni-correction. Conclusions CRD-load was associated with clinical symptoms, functional impairment, and mood-related genetic liability. These findings support further evaluation of brief assessments of circadian-associated phenotypes for identifying young people at greater clinical burden and informing circadian-focused prevention and early intervention strategies.
Source: medRxiv
Authors: Mirim Shin, Emiliana Tonini, Joanne S. Carpenter, Brittany L. Michell, Baptiste Couvy-Duchesne, Shin Ho Park, Richard Parker, Enda M. Byrne, Samuel J. Hockey, Anna Treneman, Timothy To, Nayonika Bhattacharya, Andrew Shim, Elizabeth M. Scott, Nathan A. Gillespie, Nicholas G. Martin, Jan Scott, Sarah E. Medland, Jacob J. Crouse, Ian B. Hickie
Language: English
Topic: Sleep and related disorders
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7213304009