SHIFTWORK, HELPLESSNESS AND DEPRESSION

Forty-three student nurses undertaking shiftwork for the first time pa rticipated in a study which tracked their perceptions of altered neuro vegative function, perceived criticism from others, sense of purpose a nd control and psychosomatic complaints. It was found that this first ever episode of shiftwork produced marked changes in all of the above. These findings have implications for circadian rhythm hypotheses of d epression as well as for the methodology of future studies on cognitiv e or psychosocial variables in depression.