Circadian rhythm sleep disorders affect an individual’s ability to sleep and stay awake, disrupting the natural 24-hour cycle of the body clock. They can be intrinsic or extrinsic, and treatment options include medication, behavior therapy, and bright light therapy.
The term circadian rhythm sleep disorder describes a group of sleep disorders that affect an individual’s circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is a cycle experienced by many organisms that lasts roughly the length of a day, 24 hours, and affects the timing of various activities, such as eating and sleeping. A circadian rhythm sleep disorder, therefore, is a disorder that affects an individual’s ability to sleep and stay awake. In essence, the “body clock” is turned off and the person is unable to stay awake at times appropriate for work, class, or other important activity. Conversely, they are unable to get enough sleep to stay healthy and alert unless they sleep according to their biological clock.
People with a normal circadian rhythm are able to fall asleep and wake up at regular times, feeling well rested. The body and mind get used to sleeping and getting up at a set time, and no internal or external factors prevent it. You are able to stay aware and alert throughout the day. A circadian rhythm sleep disorder prevents this healthy sleep cycle.
A circadian rhythm sleep disorder can be classified as extrinsic or intrinsic, depending on whether the source of the disturbance is internal or external. People who work at times that conflict with their biological clock experience an extrinsic circadian rhythm sleep disorder, as do those who travel frequently and suffer the effects of jet lag as they cross time zones. Delayed sleep phase syndrome, or DSPS, is an intrinsic circadian rhythm sleep disorder that causes you to wake up late and be extra alert in the middle of the night. Advanced sleep phase syndrome causes the opposite response; an individual with the syndrome is unable to stay awake and alert in the evenings.
While there is no complete cure for circadian rhythm sleep disorders, people suffering from such disorders do have options. They may take medications, such as melatonin supplements, that are able to positively influence the circadian rhythm. Melatonin is a compound developed naturally in the human body and is involved in regulating the sleep cycle. People may also turn to behavior therapy; they are generally told to avoid naps and caffeine until their periods become more regular. Another option is bright light therapy, where individuals are exposed to particularly bright light at certain times each day to affect their circadian rhythms, which may be somewhat sensitive to light.
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