What causes delayed sleep phase disorder?
Delayed sleep phase disorder usually develops during adolescence, but can start in childhood. It seldom occurs after the age of 30. Although the cause of delayed sleep phase disorder is not completely known, it likely is an exaggerated reaction to the normal shift in sleep times that occurs during adolescence. All adolescents have a shift in their internal clock after puberty of about two hours. In those with delayed sleep phase disorder, the clock shifts even more. In addition, for children who already had a tendency to go to bed late, this normal two-hour shift will result in a significantly shifted internal clock. It is important to realize that this shift in sleep is not caused by deliberate behavior. Unfortunately, many adolescents with delayed sleep phase disorder get labeled as noncompliant and truants. Approximately 7% of adolescents have delayed sleep phase disorder, and thus it is a common disorder. What are the symptoms of delayed sleep phase disorder? A child or adolescent
