@Article{Wichniak2017,
journal="Advances in Psychiatry and Neurology/Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii",
issn="1230-2813",
volume="26",
number="3",
year="2017",
title="Patient complaining of an irregular sleep rhythm – case study",
abstract=" Purpose : Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder is the  most common circadian rhythm sleep disorder. The  aim of  this article is to describe the  case of  a man whose unhealthy lifestyle and improper treatment made delayed sleep-wake phase disorder turn into non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder.   Case description : A  26-year old patient reported to a  sleep disorder outpatient clinic, complaining of  an irregular sleep rhythm. He said that from the  beginning of  the  primary school, he had problems with falling asleep and waking up in the  morning to go to school. These difficulties got more severe during adolescence and after he started his college studies. The  rhythm of  sleep became irregular and the  need to sleep increased to 13 hours a  day. The  treatment involved behavioural interventions combined with melatonin 5 mg/day and phototherapy, in line with the  procedures of  chronobiological treatment of  sleep rhythm disorders.   Comment : Chronobiological interventions, such as monitoring of adherence to sleep hygiene rules with an  emphasis on fixed, regular times of  waking up (and falling asleep) both on weekdays and weekends, while limiting the  use of  multimedia devices emitting light, at least one hour before going to bed, play an  important role in the  treatment of  delayed sleep-wake phase disorder. Failure to meet these rules makes the  symptoms of  the  disorder more severe and in extreme cases can lead to total loss of  synchronisation of  the  sleep and wake rhythm with the  day and night rhythm.",
author="Wichniak, Adam
and Wierzbicka, Aleksandra
and Szaulińska, Katarzyna
and Poradowska, Ewa
and Jernajczyk, Wojciech",
pages="184--193",
doi="10.5114/ppn.2017.70550",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/ppn.2017.70550"
}