Non-24-hour Sleep-Wake Rhythm Disorder

Sabra M Abbott

doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2019.03.002

Non-24-hour Sleep-Wake Rhythm Disorder

Neurol Clin. 2019 Aug;37(3):545-552. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2019.03.002. Epub 2019 Apr 30.

Author

Sabra M Abbott¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 710 North Lake Shore Drive, Abbott Hall 524, Chicago, IL 60610, USA. Electronic address: sabra.abbott@northwestern.edu.

PMID: 31256788
DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2019.03.002

Abstract

Non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder is a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder characterized by an inability to entrain to the 24-hour environment. Patients present with complaints of insomnia or hypersomnia, with progressive daily shifts of sleep-wake activity on actigraphy or sleep logs. Although first recognized in blind individuals without light perception, it also can be seen in individuals with intact vision. Treatment focuses on timed melatonin in blind individuals, whereas it is more complex in sighted individuals, using multiple time cues, such as light, melatonin, social interactions, feeding, and activity.

Keywords: Circadian; Free-running; Hypernychthemeral; Nonentrained.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm* / diagnosis
Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm* / physiopathology
Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm* / therapy