Irregular Sleep-Wake Rhythm Disorder

Irregular sleep-wake rhythm disorder is a rare form of circadian rhythm sleep disorder. It is characterized by numerous naps throughout the 24-hour period, no main nighttime sleep episode, and irregularity from day to day, so that affected individuals have no consistent pattern of when they are awake or asleep and often experience poor-quality sleep even though their total sleep time across each 24 hours remains normal for their age. The disorder can create social, family, and work problems that make it hard for a person to maintain relationships and responsibilities, and it may leave a person housebound and isolated.