DSPS
Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) is a disorder that
occurs when a person regularly cannot fall asleep at their desired bedtime.
It often starts in adolescence, although in some cases it
can begin in childhood years. It is rare that it starts in someone older than
thirty.
Those who experience this syndrome often take two or more
hours to fall asleep. This not only often results in difficulty waking at the
desired time, but also in insufficient amounts of rest.
It is considered a debilitating condition because the
sufferers sleep patterns do not adhere to the body's biological cycle that
normally recurs at 24-hour intervals.
Because of the inability to sleep at night, DSPS sufferers
are often excessively sleepy during the day, which interferes with their every
day activities.