- Last edited on May 5, 2021
Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder, Irregular Sleep-Wake Type
Primer
Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder, Irregular Sleep-Wake Type is a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder characterized by symptoms of insomnia at night (during the usual sleep period) and excessive sleepiness (napping) during the day. Additionally, there is no discernable sleep-wake circadian rhythm, no major sleep period, and sleep is fragmented into at least three periods during a 24-hour day.
Epidemiology
- The prevalence is not well studied, but it is more common in neurodegenerative disorders (i.e. - dementia) and children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Prognosis
Comorbidity
Risk Factors
Diagnostic Criteria
Criterion A
A persistent or recurrent pattern of sleep disruption that is primarily due to an alteration of the circadian system or to a misalignment between the endogenous circadian rhythm and the sleep-wake schedule required by an individual’s physical environment or social or professional schedule.
Criterion B
The sleep disruption leads to excessive sleepiness or insomnia, or both.
Criterion C
The sleep disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning.
Specifier Criteria
Irregular sleep-wake type specifier
Specify whether:
- Irregular sleep-wake type: A temporally disorganized sleep-wake pattern, such that the timing of sleep and wake periods is variable throughout the 24- hour period.
Length Specifier
Length Specifier
Specify if:
- Episodic: Symptoms last at least
1
month but less than3
months. - Persistent: Symptoms last
3
months or longer. - Recurrent:
2
or more episodes occur within the space of1
year.