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Defining, Assessing, and Treating Adolescent Insomnia and Related Sleep Problems Including Circadian Rhythm Disorders

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Sleep Disorders in Women

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU))

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Abstract

Young adolescent females experience significant developmental sleep changes including circadian and homeostatic changes in their sleep. They naturally develop an eveningness chronotype which tends to delay their nightly sleep and can lead to nighttime insomnia and daytime sleepiness over time. Many factors can further exacerbate symptoms of insomnia including menstrual cycle irregularities, mental health disorders, social media/technology, reduced parental control, and early school start times. The impact of chronic insomnia include cognitive impairment (memory an attention problems), metabolic dysregulation, mental health concerns, increased high-risk behavior such as substance abuse. Treatment options include elimination of exacerbating factors and behavioral treatments of insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders. In addition, external/extrinsic factors that may be impacting sleep adversely, such as cell phones, internet access and television, should be eliminated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Temitayo Oyegbile

  2. MedStar St. Mary’s Sleep Lab, Washington, DC, USA

    Temitayo Oyegbile

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  1. Temitayo Oyegbile
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Correspondence to Temitayo Oyegbile .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Hrayr Attarian

  2. Department of Neurology, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL, USA

    Mari Viola-Saltzman

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Oyegbile, T. (2020). Defining, Assessing, and Treating Adolescent Insomnia and Related Sleep Problems Including Circadian Rhythm Disorders. In: Attarian, H., Viola-Saltzman, M. (eds) Sleep Disorders in Women. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40842-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40842-8_8

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-40841-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-40842-8

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