Just Let Me Sleep in: Identifying and Treating Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder in Adolescents

Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2024 Mar;47(1):163-178. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2023.06.011.

Abstract

Individuals with delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) are unable to naturally fall asleep and awake at conventional times; for this reason, DSPD is often mistaken for insomnia. However, unlike many patients with insomnia, those with DSPD struggle to get up at appropriate times. DSPD is associated with school refusal, academic difficulties, and lower employment rate. DSPD in youth has prevalence as high as 16%, and is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders. Treatments include appropriate light exposure during the day, melatonin use, developing an evening routine that minimizes arousal-increasing activities, and gradually shifting sleep-wake times toward more functional ones.

Keywords: Adolescents; Blue light; Chronotherapy; Delayed sleep phase disorder; Insomnia; Melatonin.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Circadian Rhythm
  • Comorbidity
  • Humans
  • Melatonin* / therapeutic use
  • Sleep
  • Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm* / diagnosis
  • Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm* / epidemiology
  • Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm* / therapy
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / epidemiology
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / therapy

Substances

  • Melatonin