Pathophysiology of Circadian Rhythm Delayed Sleep Wake Phase Disorder

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.

Conditions

• Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
• Delayed Sleep Phase

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Circadian 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.

BEHAVIORAL

Light 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northwestern University

  collaborator OTHER

• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Colorado, Boulder

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kenneth Wright, PhD · University of Colorado, Boulder

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

30 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-04-02

Primary Completion

2028-07-31

Completion

2028-07-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations