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Use of bright light to treat maladaptation to night shift work and circadian rhythm sleep disorders
Author(s) -
CZEISLER CHARLES A.,
DIJK DERKJAN
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of sleep research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2869
pISSN - 0962-1105
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2869.1995.tb00231.x
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , maladaptation , shift work , morning , free running sleep , dark therapy , chronotype , wakefulness , audiology , sleep (system call) , night work , delayed sleep phase , psychology , sleep debt , medicine , sleep deprivation , circadian clock , sleep disorder , light effects on circadian rhythm , psychiatry , neuroscience , insomnia , computer science , electroencephalography , operating system
SUMMARY Night work is associated with increased sleepiness and disturbed sleep. Maladaptation of the circadian system, which is phase‐adjusted to day time work and thus promotes sleepiness during its nadir at night and wakefulness (or disturbed sleep) during the day, contributes substantially to this problem. A major cause of suboptimal circadian phase adjustment among night workers is the exposure to morning light, which prevents the delay needed for optimal adjustment to night work. Several laboratory studies indicate that careful application of bright light may cause the circadian system to shift to any desired phase. Furthermore, studies of simulated night work demonstrate that night exposure to bright light can virtually eliminate circadian maladjustment among night workers. While the results are promising, there is still, however, an urgent need for longitudinal studies of bright light application in. real‐life settings.