Thursday, 19 June 2014
Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder Symptoms
A persistent or recurrent pattern of sleep
disruption leading to excessive sleepiness or insomnia that is due to a
mismatch between the sleep-wake schedule required by a person’s environment and
his or her circadian sleep-wake pattern. In other words, a person’s natural
biological clock for sleep is at odds with times required for them to go to
sleep and wake up. For example, an individual may have trouble falling asleep
early enough to feel rested for their job the next day, ultimately leading to
difficulty following their required schedule. Others may exhibit a variable
sleep pattern (e.g., take multiple naps instead of sleeping an extended block
of time) throughout the regular 24 hr period leading to similar sleepiness or
trouble concentrating during the socially conventional awake period. Insomnia
and excessive sleepiness during work hours can also be induced in shift workers
due to their unconventional schedule.
The sleep disturbance causes clinically
significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas
of functioning.
The disturbance does not occur exclusively
during the course of another Sleep Disorder or other mental disorder.
The disturbance is not due to the direct
physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a
general medical condition.
