Elena Armstrong

• Bsc (Hons) Psychology
• Identifying behavioural phenotypes of individuals with Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD)

One common cause of insomnia is a condition known as Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD).  In the present study we will record the behavioural characteristics of individuals with DSPD and at the same time measure hormones in the blood that we know are important in daily sleep wake cycles.  By doing this we believe we may be able to identify the causes of an individual’s DSPD as being either intrinsic (linked to the hormone levels) or extrinsic (linked to other external factors).  This in turn will help understand the causes of DSPD in an individual and determine the best treatment options.

Funding Source: Newcastle University