Advanced sleep phase syndrome

Synonyms

3

Overview

Advanced sleep phase syndrome is of circadian rhythm sleep disorder. In this disorder a major sleep episode is advanced in relation to the desired clocktime, which results in symptoms of compelling evening sleepiness, an early sleep onset, and an awakening that is earlier than desired.

Symptoms

  • Inability to stay awake until the desired bedtime or inability to remain asleep until the desired time of awakening
  • There is a phase advance of the major sleep episode in relation to the desired time for sleep
  • Symptoms are present for at least 3 months
  • When not required to remain awake until the later bedtime, patients will;
  1. Have a habitual sleep period that is of normal quality and duration, with a sleep onset earlier than desired
  2. Awaken spontaneously earlier than desired
  3. Maintain stable entrainment to a 24-hour sleep-wake pattern

Causes

The exact cause of this disease is not known, but the disorder is related to circadian rhythms, which regulate the internal biological clock and influence functions such as sleep-wake patterns. It can occur in people who have experienced head trauma or serious illnesses.

Treatment

ASPS treatments are meant to adjust a person’s circadian rhythm and sleep pattern. The goal of treatment is to fit a person’s sleep pattern into a schedule that can allow the person to meet the demands of a desired lifestyle. Treatment is meant to allow the person with ASPS to wake up at a given time feeling refreshed and functional

ASPD can be treated with bright light therapy in the evenings or behaviorally with chronotherapy. Bright light therapy would involve inducing a phase delay and the light exposure must be in the early evening. There is not a lot of data about the effectiveness of light therapy for ASPS.Unlike other sleep disorders, ASPD does not disrupt normal functioning at work during the day and the patient does not complain of excessive daytime sleepiness. If their ASPD is causing people to lose out on evening activities, including putting their own normal children to bed, they may be able to force themselves to stay up later than their circadian rhythm requires. A sufferer of ASPD will still wake up very early and if this cycle continues it can lead to chronic sleep deprivation and other sleep disorders.