Resolving delayed sleep-wake phase disorder with a pandemic: two case reports

Lawrence J Epstein; Alice Cai; Elizabeth B Klerman; Charles A Czeisler

doi:10.5664/jcsm.9526

Resolving delayed sleep-wake phase disorder with a pandemic: two case reports

J Clin Sleep Med. 2022 Jan 1;18(1):315-318. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9526.

Authors

Lawrence J Epstein^{1

2}, Alice Cai^{1

2}, Elizabeth B Klerman^{2

3}, Charles A Czeisler^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
² Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
³ Division of Neurophysiology, Sleep Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Abstract

Two patients with delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) demonstrated improvement in sleep quality and duration, reduction in symptoms, and elimination of the need for hypnotic or stimulant medications after changing their sleep schedules in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown work schedule changes. These cases highlight the impact of work schedules on patient health and raise questions about approaches to workplace schedule requirements postpandemic.

Citation: Epstein LJ, Cai A, Klerman EB, Czeisler CA. Resolving delayed sleep-wake phase disorder with a pandemic: two case reports. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(1):315-318.

Keywords: COVID-19; circadian; delayed sleep-wake phase; pandemic; sleep diary.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Circadian Rhythm
Communicable Disease Control
Humans
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Sleep
Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm* / drug therapy
Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm* / epidemiology
Sleep Quality