Table 3.
Features of Asynchronization
| Concepts | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Essence | Disturbance of various aspects of biological rhythms (e.g., cycle, amplitude, phase, and interrelationship) that indicate circadian oscillation | |
| Presumable causes | Light exposure during the night | |
| Lack of light exposure in the morning | ||
| Decreased physical activity | ||
| Disturbance of biological clock and/or serotonergic/ melatonergic systems | ||
| Symptoms | Disturbances related to the autonomic nervous system | Sleepiness, insomnia, disturbance of hormonal secretion, gastrointestinal problems, sympathetic nervous system predominance |
| Somatic disturbances | Tiredness, fatigue, neck and/or back stiffness, headache, persistent yawn, desire for sleep, wish to lie down, inactivity, lumbago | |
| Disturbances related to higher brain function | Disorientation, loss of sociality, loss of will or motivation, impaired alertness and performance, difficulty with memory or concentration | |
| Neurological disturbances | Attention deficit, aggression, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, irritation, hypersensitive | |
| Psychiatric disturbances | Symptoms observed in depressive disorders, personality disorders, and anxiety disorders | |
| Therapeutic approaches | Morning light exposure | |
| Avoidance of nocturnal light exposure | ||
| Conventional approaches | Light therapy, medications (hypnotics, antidepressants, melatonin, etc.), physical activation, chronotherapy | |
| Alternative approaches | Traditional Chinese medicine, qigong, tanden breathing, acupuncture | |
| Prognosis | Early phase (functional?) | Can be easy to resolve |
| Chronic phase | Difficult to resolve |