CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CIRCADIAN-RHYTHM SLEEP DISORDERS

From our practice at the sleep disorders clinic in Kohnodai Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), we report the clin ical characteristics of circadian sleep-wake rhythm disorders. Nearly 90% of circadian rhythm sleep disorders were diagnosed as delayed slee p phase syndrome (DSPS) or as non-24 sleep-wake syndrome (non-24). Whi le DSPS was equally common in males and females, non-24 was more frequ ently seen in men. It was of psychiatric interest that a considerable number of patients had depressive states in the course of their circad ian rhythm sleep disorders. Difficulty in adapting to social life was more severe in patients with non-24 than in those with DSPS.