Pathophysiology of Circadian Rhythm Delayed Sleep Wake Phase Disorder
University of Colorado, Boulder
Summary
The goal of this study is to understand factors that contribute to delayed sleep wake phase disorder (DSWPD). The investigators will examine whether patients with DSWPD exhibit alterations in circadian rhythms and sensitivity to light compared to healthy controls. The investigators will also test a new method of predicting circadian rhythms form a blood sample.
Description
* The research parts of the study are 6.5 weeks long and the study, including screening visits, involves 6 in-person visits to the Boulder campus. * If participants qualify for the study and choose to participate, there will be two visits where participants will pick up research equipment to wear at home for 1-2 weeks of ambulatory monitoring before being studied in the laboratory. The first ambulatory monitoring session is for 2 weeks and the second is one week. * On the first ambulatory monitoring session the investigators will have participants answer questions about participant's mood a…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 16–30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Delayed sleep wake phase disorder diagnosis * Altitude history: currently residing at Denver altitude or higher * BMI normal to moderately overweight Exclusion Criteria: * Recent medical condition * Psychiatric disorder * Sleep disorder * Medication use
Interventions
- BehavioralCircadian rhythm assessment
Participants will arrive approximately 8 hours before participant's scheduled bedtime to practice ability to think testing and a 9-hour sleep study. Participants will live in the laboratory for approximately 66 hours (2.75 days). Upon awakening in the morning, participants will start a routine of up to 39 hours of wakefulness, under bedrest conditions. Saliva will be sampled frequently and blood will be drawn 3 times. Reaction time, ability to think, and subjective rating tests will be performed frequently. Participants will be provided scheduled bathroom breaks when participants will use a commode next to the bed. Outside these scheduled bathroom breaks, participants will be provided a bedpan to use to go to the bathroom. At the end of the research procedures for Visit 4 participants will be given a recovery sleep opportunity and be discharged from the lab in the morning near participant's typical waketime.
- BehavioralLight sensitivity assessment
Participants will arrive in the afternoon to practice ability to think testing and a 9-hour sleep study. Participants will live in the laboratory for approximately 48 hours (2 days). Upon awakening in the morning, participants will be exposed to dim candlelight and then later in the day alternating intensities of dim and room light when we keep participants awake for up to 23 hours (We will ask participants to remain in bed seated for \~12.5 hours). Saliva will be sampled frequently. Reaction time, ability to think, and subjective rating tests will be performed frequently. Participants will then have a second 9-hour sleep opportunity.
Locations (2)
- University of ColoradoBoulder, Colorado
- Northwestern UniversityChicago, Illinois