Psychiatric morbidity among foreign tourists is usually connected to external factors such as unfamiliar surroundings, @entity3180 , and special religious experiences, as well as biological factors such as dyschronism of circadian rhythms. Long-range flights through several time zones are typically followed by symptoms of jet lag such as @entity1295 , severe sleep schedule disturbance, @entity73 , and even mild @entity308 . Jet lag is generally attributed to a conflict between external time cues and internal biological rhythms. This study examined the possible association between jet lag and @entity146 morbidity among long-distance travelers hospitalized in the Jerusalem Mental Health Center, Kfar Shaul Hospital between 1993 and 1998. This was a prospective open-label study. @entity1 (n = 152) were divided into two groups based on the number of time zones crossed in the flight to Israel: group I, seven time zones or more (n = 81); and group II, three time zones or less (n = 71). The direction of flight was mainly eastbound. After controlling the two groups for demographic and religious background, past @entity146 history, and diagnosis on admission (P > 0.1, Fisher's exact test), the possible association between jet lag and @entity716 or @entity18822 was evaluated according to the following criteria: (1) absence of major mental problems before the flight or good remission of an existing disorder 1 year or more before flight; and (2) the appearance of @entity716 or major affective syndromes during the first 7 days after landing. The number of first @entity716 /major affective episodes in both groups presumed as associated with jet lag was found similar (P =.5), whereas the number of relapses conjoint with jet lag in the seven or more time zone group was significantly higher (P =.04). The results suggest that the dyschronism of circadian rhythms and jet lag possibly play a role in the exacerbation of major @entity146 .

Time zone change and major XXXX morbidity: the results of a 6-year study in Jerusalem.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients'] @entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['depression'] @entity146 :: ('MESH:D001523', 'Disease') :: ['psychiatric', 'psychiatric disorders'] @entity3180 :: ('MESH:D007806', 'Disease') :: ['language problems'] @entity73 :: ('MESH:D003072', 'Disease') :: ['impairment of cognitive functions'] @entity1295 :: ('MESH:D005221', 'Disease') :: ['fatigue'] @entity716 :: ('MESH:D011605', 'Disease') :: ['psychotic'] @entity18822 :: ('MESH:C565111', 'Disease') :: ['major affective disorder']
@entity146 :: (MESH:D001523,Disease) :: ['psychiatric']
