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Circadian Rhythms and Insomnia

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Clinical Handbook of Insomnia

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU))

Abstract

Because our circadian rhythms have a strong influence on sleepiness/alertness, inappropriate timing of these rhythms with respect to the attempted sleep period can produce insomnia. Relatively delayed circadian rhythms have been associated with sleep-onset insomnia and advanced or early timed rhythms have been associated with early morning awakening insomnia. Therefore, management of these insomnias need to include treatments, such as bright light and melatonin, that will retime the circadian rhythms to be more in synchrony with the timing of sleep.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Leon C. Lack PhD & Helen R. Wright PhD

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  1. Leon C. Lack PhD
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  2. Helen R. Wright PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology and Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, South First Ave. 2160, Maywood, 60153, USA

    Hrayr P. Attarian

  2. Pondview Rd. 20, Arlington, 02474, USA

    Catherine Schuman

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Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R. (2010). Circadian Rhythms and Insomnia. In: Attarian, H., Schuman, C. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Insomnia. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-042-7_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-042-7_18

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-033-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-042-7

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