Skip to main content
Log in

Abstract

Jet lag syndrome appears after multiple time zone transitions as bodily rhythms shift out of phase with the local environment. The possible psychiatric complications of jet lag have been underinvestigated. In the present review, the symptoms of jet lag in the general population, the chronobiological aspects of psychosis, as well as a possible correlation between jet lag and psychosis are discussed. The conclusions are that jet lag, through disruption of biological rhythm and probably sleep deprivation, may yield an exacerbation of existing psychotic conditions. The evidence concerning the appearance of de novo psychosis triggered by jet lag is inconsistent and far from convincing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

  1. Srinivasan V, Singh J, Pandi-Perumal SR, et al. Jet lag, circadian rhythm sleep disturbances, and depression: the role of melatonin and its analogs. Adv Ther. 2010;27(11):796–813.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Waterhouse J, Reilly T, Atkinson G, et al. Jet lag: trends and coping strategies. Lancet. 2007;369(9567):1117–29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Silverman D, Gendreau M. Medical issues associated with commercial flights. Lancet. 2009;13(9680):2067–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Arendt J. Managing jet lag: some of the problems and possible new solutions. Sleep Med Rev. 2009;13(4):249–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Tresguerres JA, Ariznavarreta C, Granados B, et al. Circadian urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin, cortisol excretion and locomotor activity in airline pilots during transmeridian flights. J Pineal Res. 2001;31(1):16–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Sack RL, Auckley D, Auger RR, et al. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders: part I, basic principles, and shift work and jet lag disorders. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine review. Sleep. 2007;30(11):1460–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kiessling S, Eichele G, Oster H. Adrenal glucocorticoids have a key role in circadian resynchronization in a mouse model of jet lag. J Clin Invest. 2010;120(7):2600–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. • Doane LD, Kremen WS, Eaves LJ, et al. Associations between jet lag and cortisol diurnal rhythms after domestic travel. Health Psychol. 2010;29(2):117–23. The article analyzes in a large sample the variations in diurnal cortisol regulation during jet lag based on number of time zones traveled eastward or westward.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lowden A, Akerstedt T. Retaining home-base sleep hours to prevent jet lag in connection with a westward flight across nine time zones. Chronobiol Int. 1998;15(4):365–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Eastman CI, Gazda CJ, Burgess HJ, et al. Advancing circadian rhythms before eastward flight: a strategy to prevent or reduce jet lag. Sleep. 2005;28(1):33–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Eastman CI, Burgess HJ. How to travel the world without jet lag. Sleep Med Clin. 2009;4(2):241–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. • Sack R. Jet lag. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(5):440–7. The article summarizes the most up-to-date data concerning the clinical aspects of jet lag.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Boulos Z, Macchi MM, Sturchler MP, et al. Light visor treatment for jet lag after westward travel across six time zones. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2002;73(10):953–63.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lahti T, Terttunen J, Leppämäki S, et al. Field trial of timed bright light exposure for jet lag among airline cabin crew. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2007;66(4):365–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Srinivasan V, Singh J, Pandi-Perumal SR, et al. Jet lag, circadian rhythm sleep disturbances, and depression: the role of melatonin and its analogs. Adv Ther. 2010;27(11):796–813.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Zee PC, Wang-Weigand S, Wright KP, et al. Effects of ramelteon on insomnia symptoms induced by rapid, eastward travel. Sleep Med. 2010;11(6):525–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Rajaratnam SM, Polymeropoulos MH, Fisher DM, et al. Melatonin agonist tasimelteon (VEC-162) for transient insomnia after sleep-time shift: two randomised controlled multicentre trials. Lancet. 2009;373(9662):482–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kasper S, Hajak G, Wulff K, et al. Efficacy of the novel antidepressant agomelatine on the circadian rest-activity cycle and depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind comparison with sertraline. J Clin Psychiatry. 2010;71(2):109–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Leproult R, Van Onderbergen A, L’hermite-Balériaux M, et al. Phase-shifts of 24-h rhythms of hormonal release and body temperature following early evening administration of the melatonin agonist agomelatine in healthy older men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2005;63(3):298–304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Reilly T, Atkinson G, Budgett R. Effect of low-dose temazepam on physiological variables and performance tests following a westerly flight across five time zones. Int J Sports Med. 2001;22(3):166–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Buxton OM, Copinschi G, Van Onderbergen A, et al. A benzodiazepine hypnotic facilitates adaptation of circadian rhythms and sleep-wake homeostasis to an eight hour delay shift simulating westward jet lag. Sleep. 2000;23(7):915–27.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Paul MA, Gray G, Sardana TM, et al. Melatonin and zopiclone as facilitators of early circadian sleep in operational air transport crews. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2004;75(5):439–43.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Poulin J, Chouinard S, Pampoulova T. Sleep habits in middle-aged, non-hospitalized men and women with schizophrenia: a comparison with healthy controls. Psychiatry Res. 2010;179(3):274–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Sarkar S, Katshu MZ, Nizamie SH, et al. Slow wave sleep deficits as a trait marker in patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2010;124(1–3):127–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Lusignan FA, Godbout R, Dubuc MJ, et al. NonREM sleep mentation in chronically-treated persons with schizophrenia. Conscious Cogn. 2010;19(4):977–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ferrarelli F, Peterson MJ, Sarasso S, et al. Thalamic dysfunction in schizophrenia suggested by whole-night deficits in slow and fast spindles. Am J Psychiatry. 2010;167(11):1339–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Poulin J, Stip E, Godbout R. REM sleep EEG spectral analysis in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res. 2008;42(13):1086–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wirz-Justice A, Haug HJ, Cajochen C. Disturbed circadian rest-activity cycles in schizophrenia patients: an effect of drugs. Schizophr Bull. 2001;3:497–502.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Bersani G, Mameli M, Garavini A, et al. Reduction of night/day difference in melatonin blood levels as a possible disease-related index in schizophrenia. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2003;24(3–4):181–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Suresh Kumar PN, Andrade C, Bhakta SG, et al. Melatonin in schizophrenic outpatients with insomnia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2004;68(2):237–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Trbovic SM. Schizophrenia as a possible dysfunction of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Med Hypotheses. 2010;74(1):127–31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Lamont EW, Coutu DL, Cermakian N, et al. Circadian rhythms and clock genes in psychotic disorders. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2010;47(1):27–35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kishi T, Fukuo Y, Kitajima T, et al. SIRT1 gene, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder in the Japanese population: An association study. Genes Brain Behav. 2010 Oct 26. Epub ahead of print.

  34. Mansour HA, Talkowski ME, Wood J, et al. Association study of 21 circadian genes with bipolar I disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Bipolar Disord. 2009;11(7):701–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Shapiro S. Airport wandering as a psychotic symptom. Psychiatr Clin. 1982;15(4):173–6.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Jauhar P, Weller M. Psychiatric morbidity and time zone changes: a study of patients from Heathrow airport. Br J Psychiatry. 1982;140(3):231–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Young D. Psychiatric morbidity in travelers to Honolulu, Hawaii. Compr Psychiatry. 1995;36(3):224–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Oyewumi L. Jet lag and relapse of schizoaffective psychosis despite maintenance clozapine treatment. Br J Psychiatry. 1998;173(9):268.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Katz G, Durst R, Barel Y, et al. De novo jet lag psychosis. Br J Psychiatry. 1999;174(6):558–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Katz G, Durst R, Zislin Y, et al. Psychiatric aspects of jet lag: review and hypothesis. Med Hypothesis. 2001;56(1):20–3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Katz G, Durst R, Knobler H. Exogenous melatonin, jet lag, and psychosis: preliminary case results. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2001;21(3):349–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Katz G, Knobler HY, Laibel Z, et al. Time zone change and major psychiatric morbidity: the results of a 6-year study in Jerusalem. Compr Psychiatry. 2002;43(1):37–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Disclosure

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gregory Katz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Katz, G. Jet Lag and Psychotic Disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep 13, 187–192 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-011-0192-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-011-0192-4

Keywords

Navigation