iPedia Free Information Center

Information about Ultradian

Ultradian characterizes recurrent periods or cycles repeated frequently throughout a 24-hour day

The descriptive term ultradian is used in sleep research to describe individual stages of sleep that occur within intervals of an organism's circadian rhythm, and especially to refer to a 90 minute REM cycle in human sleep.

Some of the ultradian cyclings of the body are hormonal release, heart rate, thermoregulation, nostril dilation and appetite. The last involves rhythmic release of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH), stimulating and inhibiting appetite ultradian rhythms.

Ultradian Bipolar Disorder

All forms of Bipolar Disorder have a defined biological nature, apparently stemming from a common genetic factor that leads to generational morbidity. Both twins studies, and general population studies show that there is an increased chance of developing a Bipolar Disorder when either a general mood disorder or a specific Bipolar disorder is present in family members. Further research is being conducted to discriminate any environmental factors that may also play a role in onset and severity of Bipolar disorder.

Ultradian states in Bipolar Disorder are faster than rapid cycling states which imply four or more mood episodes in a year.

Rapid cycling mood states are characterized by more than four mood states within a year, and may occur within the space of a few weeks. These oscillations or cycles may last a few days, or even weeks. While current understanding looks to the presence of both states simultaneously, there are anecdotal cases where situational factors can produce distinct and separate periods of depression or mania/hypomania, switching back and forth. Because there is very little research into this particular form of cycling, the terminology is borrowed from the more established research into the formal Bipolar I or Bipolar II categories.

Ultradian cycling is characterized by cycles shorter than 24 hours. Ultradian Bipolar Disorder is productively treated by the same mood-stabilizing medications used with Bipolar I and II, though dosing may be difficult due to situational stress and other environmental factors.

Researchers are working to understand the brain chemistry basis of mood states in an effort to better diagnose and treat Bipolar Disorder. This research shows the promise of finding biological determinants for Ultradian mood states.

References

Sleep is the state of natural rest observed throughout the animal kingdom, in all mammals and birds, and in many reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

In humans, other mammals, and many other animals that have been studied — such as fish, birds, ants, and fruit-flies —
..... Click the link for more information.
A circadian rhythm is a roughly-24-hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. The term "circadian", coined by Franz Halberg,[1] comes from the Latin circa, "around", and diem or
..... Click the link for more information.
REM may refer to:
  • Rem, or Röntgen equivalent man, a unit of radiation dose
  • REM sleep, a normal stage of sleep characterized by rapid movements of the eyes
  • R.E.M. (band), an American rock music band
  • R.E.M.

..... Click the link for more information.
hormone (from Greek όρμή - "to set in motion") is a chemical messenger that carries a signal from one cell (or group of cells) to another. All multicellular organisms produce hormones (including plants - see phytohormone).
..... Click the link for more information.
Heart rate is a term used to describe the frequency of the cardiac cycle. It is considered one of the four vital signs. Usually it is calculated as the number of contractions (heart beats) of the heart in one minute and expressed as "beats per minute" (bpm).
..... Click the link for more information.
Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. This process is one aspect of homeostasis: a dynamic state of stability between an animal's internal environment and its
..... Click the link for more information.
nostril (or naris, pl. nares) is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. In birds and mammals, they contain branched bones or cartilages called turbinates, whose function is to warm air on inhalation and
..... Click the link for more information.
For the mineral, see .
The appetite is the desire to eat food, felt as hunger. Appetite exists in all higher lifeforms, and serves to regulate adequate energy intake to maintain metabolic needs.
..... Click the link for more information.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36 amino acid peptide neurotransmitter found in the brain and autonomic nervous system. It augments the vasoconstrictor effects of noradrenergic neurons.
..... Click the link for more information.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), originally named corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and also called corticoliberin, is a polypeptide hormone and neurotransmitter involved in the stress response.
..... Click the link for more information.
MeSH D001714

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition defined as recurrent episodes of significant disturbance in mood. These disturbances can occur on a spectrum that ranges from debilitating depression to unbridled mania.
..... Click the link for more information.
In animals, the brain or encephalon (Greek for "in the skull"), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. The brain is located in the head, protected by the skull and close to the primary sensory apparatus of vision, hearing,
..... Click the link for more information.


This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.
Herod_Archelaus


page counter