Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders — Comprehensive Sleep Care Center

Comprehensive Sleep Care Center diagnoses and treats circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders in adults and adolescents across Virginia and Maryland. Our board-certified sleep specialists help patients whose internal biological clocks are misaligned with their desired sleep schedules — causing chronic difficulty sleeping or waking at conventional times.

What Are Circadian Rhythm Disorders?

Circadian rhythm disorders occur when a person’s internal biological clock (circadian rhythm) is misaligned with the external environment or with the sleep-wake schedule required by their social, work, or school obligations. The result is chronic difficulty sleeping when desired, difficulty waking when needed, or sleep at highly irregular times.

Common Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (DSWPD) — most common in adolescents and young adults; the biological clock is shifted significantly later, causing inability to fall asleep until very late (2–6 AM) and extreme difficulty waking in the morning
Advanced Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (ASWPD) — the biological clock is shifted earlier; patients fall asleep very early (6–9 PM) and wake very early (2–5 AM); most common in older adults
Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder — the circadian rhythm cycles slightly longer or shorter than 24 hours, causing gradually shifting sleep times; most commonly affects people who are blind
Irregular Sleep-Wake Rhythm Disorder — no consistent major sleep period; associated with dementia, traumatic brain injury, and developmental disorders
Shift Work Sleep Disorder — caused by work schedules that conflict with natural circadian rhythms; affects workers on night, early morning, or rotating shifts
Jet Lag Disorder — temporary circadian misalignment caused by rapid travel across multiple time zones

Treatment for Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Light therapy — strategic exposure to bright light at specific times to reset the biological clock
Melatonin — low-dose melatonin taken at strategic times to shift the circadian phase
Chronotherapy — a scheduled program of gradually shifting sleep and wake times
Sleep scheduling and behavioral strategies
Tasimelteon (Hetlioz) for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder in blind individuals
Workplace and lifestyle accommodation guidance for shift workers

Frequently Asked Questions — Circadian Disorders

Is delayed sleep phase just being a ‘night owl’?

Delayed sleep phase disorder is more than a preference for staying up late — it is a biological condition in which the circadian clock is genuinely shifted later. People with DSWPD cannot simply choose to fall asleep earlier; their bodies do not produce melatonin and drop in core temperature at the typical times. Treatment can reset the clock to a more conventional schedule.

Can shift work cause a sleep disorder?

Yes. Shift work sleep disorder is a recognized clinical condition in which the work schedule directly conflicts with the body’s circadian rhythms, causing insomnia when trying to sleep and excessive sleepiness during work hours. It is associated with increased health risks including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and mental health issues.

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