Practice Essentials
Disturbances in circadian rhythm—the approximately 24-hour cycles that are endogenously generated by an organism—can be categorized into two main groups: transient disorders (eg, jet lag or a changed sleep schedule due to work, social responsibilities, or illness) and chronic disorders (eg, delayed sleep-phase syndrome [DSPS], advanced sleep-phase syndrome [ASPS], and irregular sleep-wake cycle). [1] Sleeplessness (insomnia) is defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep.
Signs and symptoms
To assess circadian rhythm disorders, consider:
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Symptom duration (transient vs. chronic)
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Sleep-wake pattern (helps classify chronic subtypes)
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Shift work (rotating vs. consistent schedules)
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Total sleep time (normal vs. shortened)
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Peak alertness (evening/night vs. morning vs. irregular)
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Recent travel (jet lag if ≥ three time zones crossed)
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Daytime sleepiness (varies by disorder)
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Psychological factors (insomnia, depression, psychiatric conditions)
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Cognitive impact (attention, executive function deficits)
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Sleep aids used (alcohol, OTC drugs, herbal remedies)
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Medication history (timing, interactions)
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Snoring/apnea (possible comorbidities)
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Medical conditions (eg, CHF, COPD, chronic pain)
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Environmental factors (light, noise, temperature, sleep hygiene)
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Accidents related to sleepiness (eg, motor vehicle accidents)
DSPS (~10% of chronic insomnia cases):
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Difficulty falling asleep/waking at desired times (> 6 months)
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Normal total sleep time, peak alertness in late evening/night
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Common in adolescents (7–16%) and night-shift workers
ASPS (less common, mostly elderly):
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Early sleep onset (6–9 PM), early wake-up (3–5 AM)
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Peak alertness in early morning, stable sleep schedule
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Often seen in elderly and depressed individuals
Irregular sleep-wake cycle (linked to neurodegenerative diseases):
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Fragmented sleep with multiple sleep episodes
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Normal total sleep time but inconsistent patterns
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Daytime sleepiness, irregular activities (eg, eating, body temperature fluctuations)
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Common in Alzheimer’s disease
Insomnia results in shortened sleep duration due to persistent difficulties falling or staying asleep.
See Clinical Presentation for more detail.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of circadian rhythm disorders is primarily based on a thorough history. In cases of sleeplessness, it is important to distinguish individuals with difficulty initiating sleep from those with difficulty maintaining sleep, those with significant daytime impairment, and those with nonrestorative sleep.
The physical examination is focused on identifying risk factors for other conditions that may precipitate, exacerbate, or mimic sleeplessness/insomnia (eg, depression, obstructive sleep apnea [OSA], neurodegenerative disease). Examination includes the following assessments:
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General affect or sense of wellbeing in those with sleeplessness/insomnia as a primary sleep complaint
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Body mass index (BMI): Increased risk for OSA with higher BMI measurements
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Craniofacial morphology: Large tonsils, narrow oropharyngeal spaces, and large necks (increased risk for OSA)
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Chest: Barrel chest (associated with chronic lung disease); crackles, murmurs, and cardiac enlargement (as evidenced by displaced point of maximum impulse) may be CHF
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Digital clubbing: Associated with chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease, or it may be familial; further medical evaluation may be needed
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Neurologic examination
Sleep tests
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Sleep logs: For assessing sleeplessness; identifies sleep-wake cycles in the patient's normal environment; permits a subjective assessment of alertness over a 2-week period
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Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): For objective measurement of sleepiness
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Epworth Sleepiness Scale: For an indication of sleepiness; correlated with sleep apnea
Imaging studies
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Brain imaging: For evaluation of suspected neurodegenerative disease
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Actigraphy: For gross measurement of sleep-wake cycles over time
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Overnight polysomnography: For identification of OSA, periodic limb movements of sleep, or sleep-state misperception; for evaluation of narcolepsy when used in conjunction with the MSLT
See Workup for more detail.
Management
Therapy for circadian rhythm disturbances is largely behavioral. However, the direction of evaluation and treatment plans is influenced by differentiating between transient and chronic circadian rhythm disorders as well as between primary and secondary disorders.
DSPS often resolves in adulthood. ASPS often responds well to a combination of behavioral and pharmacologic intervention.
Treatment for circadian rhythm disturbances includes the following:
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Behavioral therapy
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Bright light therapy
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Chronotherapy
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Enhancing environmental cues
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Lifestyle changes
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Mixed modalities
Pharmacotherapy
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Benzodiazepines (eg, triazolam, temazepam, estazolam, quazepam, flurazepam)
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Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics (eg, zolpidem, eszopiclone, zaleplon)
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Melatonin receptor agonists (eg, tasimelteon, ramelteon, melatonin)
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Orexin receptor antagonists (eg, suvorexant)
Surgery
Sleep disturbances associated with OSA syndrome may be treatable with surgical intervention.
See Treatment and Medication for more detail.
Background
Disturbances in circadian rhythm—the approximately 24-hour cycles that are endogenously generated by an organism—can be categorized into two main groups: transient disorders and chronic disorders. Transient disorders include jet lag or a changed sleep schedule due to work, social responsibilities, or illness. [1]
The most common chronic disorders are delayed sleep-phase syndrome (DSPS), advanced sleep-phase syndrome (ASPS), and irregular sleep-wake cycle. Katzenberg et al suggested genetic correlations (ie, clock polymorphisms) to circadian rhythm patterns. [2] The International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Third Edition, Text Revision (ICSD-3-TR) recognizes seven distinct circadian rhythm sleep disorders: [3]
Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder
Advanced sleep-wake phase disorder
Irregular sleep-wake rhythm disorder
Non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder
Shift work disorder
Jet lag disorder
Circadian sleep-wake disorder not otherwise specified
Most physiologic systems demonstrate circadian variations. The systems with the most prominent variations are the sleep-wake cycle, thermoregulation, and the endocrine system.
Terminology
Important terms associated with circadian rhythm are defined as follows:
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Circadian rhythm - Approximately 24-hour cycles endogenously generated by an organism (eg, sleep-wake cycle)
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Ultradian rhythm - Biologic rhythms shorter than a 24-hour cycle (eg, sleep stages)
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Entrainment - Synchronization of the circadian rhythms with environmental cues
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Free-running clock - Persistence of circadian rhythms in the absence of environmental cues (eg, in patients with impaired ability to entrain or in those without time cues)
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Zeitgeber (time giver) - Specific environmental variables that provide time cues (eg, light, food-availability cycles); light is the strongest zeitgeber
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Sleeplessness (insomnia) - Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep
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Circadian rhythm disorders - Malfunctions of the circadian timing system or the biologic clock
DSPS is characterized by a persistent inability (>6 mo) to fall asleep and awaken at socially accepted times. Once asleep, these patients are able to maintain their sleep and have normal total sleep times. In contrast, patients with insomnia have a lower than normal total sleep time due to difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep. (See Etiology, Prognosis, Presentation, Workup, Treatment, and Medication.)
ASPS is characterized by persistent, early evening sleep onset (between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm), with an early morning wake-up time, generally between 3:00 am and 5:00 am. ASPS is less common than DSPS; it most frequently occurs in elderly patients and in individuals who are depressed.
An irregular sleep-wake schedule features multiple sleep episodes without evidence of recognizable ultradian or circadian features of sleep and wakefulness. As with ASPS and DSPS, total sleep time is normal. Daily sleep logs demonstrate irregularity not only of sleep but also of daytime activities, including eating.
Physiology
The neural basis of the circadian rhythm, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), is located in the anterior ventral hypothalamus and has been identified as the substrate that generates circadian activity. SCN lesions produce loss of circadian rhythmicity of the sleep-wake cycle, the activity-rest cycle, skin temperature, and corticosteroid secretion. (See Etiology.)
Other pacemakers that are not located in the SCN are observed. For instance, core body temperature rhythm persists despite bilateral ablation of SCN. Furthermore, free-running studies have provided evidence for multiple circadian oscillators. Under free-running conditions, circadian rhythm may split into independent components.
Complications
The consequences of poor sleep are well established. They include irritability, impaired social interactions and psychomotor coordination, poor daytime performance, and daytime sleepiness. The literature supports the relationship of poor sleep to automobile accidents, heavy machinery accidents, and other catastrophes.
Etiology
Most of the time, the biologic clock or the circadian rhythm is in synchronization with the 24-hour day-night environment. However, in some individuals, the biologic circadian rhythm of sleep and wakefulness is out of phase with the conventional or desired sleep-wake schedule. Postulated reasons for that breakdown are as follows.
Sensitivity to zeitgebers
Sensitivity to zeitgebers (ie, environmental cues) may be altered or disrupted, which can be demonstrated under free-running conditions. Altered or disrupted sensitivity to zeitgebers is probably the most common cause of circadian rhythm disorder.
Disrupted pacemaker function
A dysfunction may be present in the internal coupling mechanisms of biologic pacemakers (eg, the coupling of the sleep-wake cycle with the temperature cycle).
Environment
Light, higher levels of noise, and elevated room temperature are not conducive to good sleep and are important variables to consider in shift and night workers
Travel
The severity of jet lag is related to the direction of travel (ie, more frequently seen when traveling in an eastward direction) and the number of time zones crossed. Most patients experience jet lag if they cross 3 or more time zones. The rate of adjustment is 1.5 hours per day after an eastward flight and 1 hour per day when the flight is in a westward direction.
Other factors that may affect the severity of jet lag are age, the ability to sleep while traveling, the time of the day at the destination, and exposure to light. Studies have even looked at cabin pressure and the slight oxygen deprivation experienced during flights as contributing factors to symptoms of jet lag.
Neurologic disease
Alzheimer disease is one of the more common examples of neurologic disease associated with circadian rhythm disturbance; however, irregular sleep-wake cycles also can be seen in other neurodegenerative diseases. The phenomenon of sundowning is best described in Alzheimer disease and is characterized by sleep disruptions with awakenings and confusion.
Circadian rhythm disturbances have been reported in children with cancer and may be seen following injury to the hypothalamus or brainstem in those with endocrine dysfunction or following cranial irradiation. [4]
In children with autism spectrum disorder, sleep onset and sleep maintenance insomnia have been described. [5] They have also been associated with abnormal sleep-wake rhythms.
Shift work
Rapid shift changes and shift changes in the counterclockwise direction are most likely to cause symptoms.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle and social pressure (to stay up late) can exacerbate a circadian rhythm disorder.
Epidemiology
Frequency
Delayed sleep-phase syndrome (DSPS) is common. Approximately 7–10% of patients who complain of insomnia are diagnosed with a circadian rhythm disorder, most often DSPS. The prevalence of DSPS is probably higher than that because the total sleep time is typically normal in patients with DSPS and because patients with DSPS adjust their lifestyle to accommodate their sleep schedule and do not seek medical treatment. In adolescence, the prevalence is approximately 7%.
True advanced sleep-phase syndrome (ASPS) is probably quite rare. However, an age-related phase advance is common in elderly patients because they tend to go to sleep early and get up early.
The prevalence of irregular sleep-wake schedules has not been established but is said to be quite high. An irregular sleep-wake schedule is common in patients with Alzheimer disease.
Approximately 20% of US workers perform shift work, but not all of these workers develop shift-work syndrome, and individual phase tolerance is observed.
Dagan et al reported the characteristics of 322 Israeli patients with circadian rhythm sleep disorder and found that most of these patients (83.5%) had DSPS. About 90% of the patients with DSPS reported onset of the syndrome in early childhood or adolescence. [6]
A cross-sectional, nationwide epidemiologic study in Norway established an overall prevalence of DSPS of 0.17% when strict International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) criteria were used. [7]
Race-related demographics
Race has been associated with variations in incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, many variables may be associated with these differences, and further research is necessary to evaluate this.
Demographics
The sex difference in circadian rhythm disorders seems to be age related. In children and adolescents, no significant prevalence based on sex is observed. Moreover, little to no difference in prevalence based on sex is observed in patients aged 20–40 years. In persons older than 40 years, however, women are 1.3 times more likely than men to report insomnia.
Circadian rhythm cycles undergo changes during puberty, as do other physiologic systems. At this time, increased daytime sleepiness is seen along with the development of sleep-phase delay. Early school start times at this critically important developmental phase, coupled with afterschool activities and homework, are associated with sleep deprivation and phase shifting in children and adolescents. This can lead to symptoms of daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, and impaired performance.
DSPS is the most common circadian rhythm disorder in children and adolescents. ASPS is more likely to appear in elderly individuals. Health risks associated with shift work, such as gastrointestinal (GI) and psychosomatic symptoms, increase with age.
Irregular sleep-wake rhythms can be seen in patients with neurologic impairment, including those with dementia.
Prognosis
Prognoses in circadian rhythm disorders include the following:
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Jet lag - This is a transient condition that has a good prognosis
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Shift work - Abrupt changes in schedule and counterclockwise shifts are associated with daytime sleepiness and impaired performance; older patients may not adjust well to shift work
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Delayed sleep-phase syndrome (DSPS) - This is typically seen in adolescents and young adults; this sleep pattern often resolves in adulthood
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Advanced sleep-phase syndrome (ASPS) - This is prominent in the elderly and often responds well to a combination of behavioral and pharmacologic intervention
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Other conditions - Children with special needs, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental disabilities, generally respond well to behavioral intervention
Morbidity and mortality
The mortality rates associated with circadian rhythms are difficult to assess. Many deaths related to circadian rhythm disorders are the result of impaired performance secondary to sleep deprivation; therefore, many times, the deaths are categorized into different headings (eg, motor vehicle accidents, heavy machinery accidents). Sometimes, deaths are sequelae of the use of hypnotics, alcohol, or both to treat insomnia.
Shift workers have been found to have a 40% greater cardiovascular disease risk than nonshift workers. The frequency of GI, psychosomatic, and psychiatric symptoms is also increased in shift workers. In addition, increased alcohol and drug use, as well as emotional problems, have been described.
Daytime sleepiness in students with DSPS has been correlated with negative mood and increased smoking and alcohol consumption.
Some of the features of depressive disorders, such as early morning awakening and decreased rapid eye movement (REM) latency, are suggestive of ASPS. Whether these changes are secondary to depression or actually cause it has not been established.
Patient Education
Education can play a critical role in therapeutic response; however, education in sleep hygiene without other interventions is often insufficient.
Patients should be advised of risks secondary to sleepiness and have follow-ups after treatment to determine if risk factors have been satisfactorily addressed.
