Antidepressants Blog

The study of biological clocks and rhythms has now evolved into a special science called chronobiology. Chronobiologists are not only interested in the biological rhythm of sleep but also in other biological functions such as the rhythm of hormonal secretion, urinary excretion, gastric function, body temperature, and the periodical fluctuation of human performance during the 24 hour cycle. Some chronobiologists are even interested in the biological rhythms in animals and plants.

Franz Halberg, a US chronobiologist, divided biological rhythms into three types. In 1959 he described the familiar circadian rhythm— its period is about a day. Then, in 1967, he described ultradian rhythms, which are biological rhythms with periods of less than a day. These include the 90 minute sleep cycle, also known as the REM/NREM cycle or Kleitman’s basic rest activity cycle (BRAC). This has been described in chapter 5, Two kinds of Sleep. Rhythms of the third type are called infradian rhythms. These rhythms have periods in excess of a day; the most familiar is the monthly menstrual period. These biological rhythms can be summarised as follows:

(1) Ultradian rhythms: less than a day

(2) Circadian rhythms: about a day

(3) Infradian rhythms: more than a day

The ultradian rhythm with its periodicity of about 90 minutes determines human performance and arousal state both day and night throughout the 24 hour period. This 90 minute cycle has also been found to operate in other human biological activities; for example, urinary volume and concentration, gastric contraction activity, pupil size under constant illumination, respiratory rate, and even heart rate. This rhythm exerts its influence both in the awake and in the sleeping state.

The periodicity of the ultradian rhythm varies from species to species. In man, it is about 90 minutes; in cats, 20 minutes; in rhesus monkeys, 60 minutes. The significance of this ultradian rhythm and the reason for its existence is still a mystery.

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We have already discussed the mechanisms by which relaxation and regression of themselves work to reduce anxiety. Tension is eased, and so also are all the various symptoms which are the direct or indirect manifestations of anxiety. However, once we have mastered the relaxation of the body, the relaxation of the mind, and regression, we are in a position to use a more direct approach to the relief of symptoms and the promotion of better responses to life situations.

In its simplest form this consists of presenting to our mind very simple ideas for improvement while still in the relaxed and regressed state.

Regression and Sequences of Thought-We have discussed the idea of regression at some length as a process by which we drift back to a simple and more primitive way of mental functioning in which we cease to be alert and critical. In it we leave our mind to wander uncontrolled as in a state of reverie. Now that we have achieved this state of affairs we can go a step further. We can exert some control over our mind, but at the same time maintain our regression. This type of control must be very simple and primitive in itself, or it will bring us to be alert and critical, and our regression will immediately be lost.

The basis for the relief of our symptoms lies in the introduction of very simple trains of thought while we are still in our relaxed and regressed state of mind. It is emphasized that the trains of thought must be simple and direct or we will not be able to maintain our regression. The maintenance of the regression as we consider the train of thought is all-important. Without the regression the therapeutic train of thought has little or no effect at all.

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