Figure 4
From: Estimation methods for human circadian phase by use of peripheral tissues
Masked circadian rhythm sleep disorder. (a) It may be difficult to prevent the underdiagnosis of circadian rhythm sleep disorders with the current clinical tools and methods because circadian misalignment can be masked because of forced adaptation to social time schedules. The establishment of methods for the assessment of the human circadian phase may help in the rapid clinical detection of socially masked circadian sleep problems. (b) A schematic representation of the possible contribution of objective circadian phase estimation methods to clinical sleep medicine. Effective phase estimation methods may improve the treatment strategy for sleep problems by increasing the accuracy of the methods used for the diagnosis of circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
