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Is the delayed sleep phase syndrome a physical or psychological disease? A case report of disappearance following a change of latitude
Author(s) -
Gottesmann Claude
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2000.00750.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , chronotherapy (sleep phase) , sleep disorder , delayed sleep phase , circadian rhythm , sleep (system call) , arousal , medicine , disease , psychology , insomnia , neuroscience , psychiatry , computer science , operating system
The delayed sleep phase syndrome is characterized by an abnormally late sleeping and arousal time. Among several available treatments, chronotherapy, light therapy and melatonin administration strongly suggest a frequently recurring disturbance of the brain's circadian clock. However, several studies show psychological disturbances, which are either potentially a consequence or a cause or only fortuitously associated. The first case of disappearance of the disturbance after a move to a tropical latitude does not determine the main responsible factor.