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Stanford Health Care

Treatments for Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

Treating Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

Those suffering from delayed sleep phase syndrome often only seek the help of a sleep specialist after they've unsuccessfully tried to change their sleep schedule on their own. Sleep specialists use two particular treatment methods to help patients with this syndrome, chronotherapy and  light therapy.

Chronotherapy

This technique aims to reset the circadian clock by slowly delaying the bedtime (and hence the sleep period) by about two hours every few days. This strategy is used less commonly than the light therapy method. It invariably disrupts normal schedule of activity during the shift, when day and night are reversed.

Bright light therapy

A light therapy used to manage circadian rhythm disorders such as delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), by gradually enabling a shift to normal societal sleeping patterns.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Open Trials