Night shift work and the risk of psychiatric symptoms: a comparison between rotating night shifts and day shifts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25118/2763-9037.2023.v13.701Keywords:
night shift work, psychiatric symptoms, sleep, shift work schedule, circadian rhythm disruption, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophreniaAbstract
Introduction: Sleep is controlled by an interaction between circadian and homeostatic oscillators that dictate wakefulness and sleep state according to the light/dark cycle. Currently, sleeping, and waking times are influenced by social conditions such as school, work hours and work shifts, this disruption of the circadian cycle can negatively influence the physical and mental behavior of the population. Working on shifts is directly associated with psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, depression, irritability, and nervousness. Objective and Method: Given the socioeconomic impacts and impairment of the individual's mental health generated by shift work, this review aimed, based on the analysis of scientific articles published from 2012 to 2022 to evaluate the impact of night work on mental health compared to typical day-to-day shift work. Results and Conclusion: Shift work is a significant labor organization employing 10-30% of the workforce, but it disrupts sleep schedules, leading to a misalignment between the individual's circadian rhythm and the environment. Although it's hard to establish causal links between shift work and health effects, sleep restriction and changes in behavioral rhythms are risk factors for psychiatric disorders. Managing individual exposure is vital to preserving workers' mental health, especially considering age, gender, and chronotype. However, operational constraints may make it difficult to implement in some workplaces.
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Copyright (c) 2023 André Rodrigues da Cunha Barreto-Vianna, Luana Cariello de Sá Queiroz Rocha, Letícia Rocha Macambira Albuquerque, Matheus Girão Bezerra de Oliveira Nogueira, Sarah Gurgel Ponte Fontenelle, Gabriela Braga Cabrera Mano, Ana Beatriz Penazzi Magalhães Porto, Júlio César Claudino dos Santos
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