Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder (CRSWD)

Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder (CRSWD) is the formal clinical diagnosis including circadian rhythm dysregulation (a general term for when our internal biological clock is out of sync with our environment) and circadian rhythm sleep disorder (CRSD) (the medical term for when dysregulation becomes persistent and causes significant distress or impairs daily life). Clinical disorders are typically categorized into two groups based on their cause. Extrinsic (environmental) disorders results from external schedules (shift-work disorder, jet lag). But more serious disorders are intrinsic (biological), which result from within the body’s clock system:

• Delayed sleep-wake phase syndrome or disorder: Extreme night owl behavior that interferes with morning responsibilities.
• Advanced sleep-wake phase disorder: Extreme sleepiness in early evening and waking in the middle of the night.
• Non-24-hour disorder: Cycle shifts later every day, common in the blind.
• Irregular sleep-wake rhythm: Highly fragmented sleep patterns without a clear 24-hour cycle.