Cause 13. Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders: The Misalignment of Biological Clocks
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders (CRSD) are a group of sleep disorders characterized by a misalignment between a person’s internal biological clock and the external environmental cues. This misalignment can lead to insomnia at night and excessive sleepiness during the day, disrupting the person’s sleep-wake cycle and daily activities.
CRSDs can be intrinsic, meaning they originate within the body, or extrinsic, resulting from external factors. Examples include advanced sleep phase disorder, delayed sleep phase disorder, non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, and shift work sleep disorder.
The causes of CRSDs can vary depending on the specific disorder. Factors such as genetics, age, lifestyle, and work schedule can all contribute to the development of these disorders. For instance, shift work sleep disorder is common among people who work non-traditional hours, particularly night shifts or rotating shifts, which disrupt the normal sleep-wake cycle.(13)
