Indian Journal of Sleep Medicine

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VOLUME 9 , ISSUE 1 ( January-March, 2014 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Phototherapy: Role in Sleep Disorders

Preeti Devnani

Keywords : Circadian rhythm disorders, phototherapy, circadian rhythm and diabetes, seasonal affective disorders.

Citation Information : Devnani P. Phototherapy: Role in Sleep Disorders. Indian Sleep Med 2014; 9 (1):1-6.

DOI: 10.5958/0974-0155.2014.01098.5

License: NA

Published Online: 01-03-2018

Copyright Statement:  NA


Abstract

In the natural world, the light/dark cycle entrains our rhythm. Light is a very effective “zeitgeber.” In the presence of environmental time cues, sleep–wake physiology and gene expression continue to exhibit a near-24-hour circadian rhythm regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus. Phototherapy is an accepted modality for the non-pharmacological management of circadian disorders, such as delayed sleep phase syndrome, insomnia, and mood disorders. This review discusses the clinical repercussions of circadian rhythm disorders, the physiological principle of phototherapy, and its application across the spectrum of sleep disorders.


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