title: Circadian rhythm sleep disorder, free-running type in a sighted male with severe depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia.
abstract: Circadian rhythm sleep disorder, free-running type (CRSD, FRT) is a disorder in which the intrinsic circadian rhythm is no longer entrained to the 24-hour schedule. A unique case of CRSD, FRT in a 67-year-old sighted male is presented. The patient had a progressively delayed time in bed (TIB) each night, so that he would cycle around the 24-h clock approximately every 30 days. This was meticulously documented each night by the patient over the course of 22 years. The patient's CRSD, FRT was associated with severe depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia. The agoraphobia may have exacerbated the CRSD, FRT. Entrainment and stabilization of his circadian rhythm was accomplished after treatment that included melatonin, light therapy, and increased sleep structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. markbrownmd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Stuart F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Eichling
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin