ime Zone Change (Jet Lag) Syndrome; Shift Work Sleep Disorder; Irregular Sleep/Wake Pattern; Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome; Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome; and Non-24-h Sleep/Wake Syndrome (Ahmed, 2003). Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder, characterized by the DSM-IV (1994) includes a persistent or recurrent pattern of sleep disruption which leads to excessive sleepiness or insomnia, due to a mismatch between a sleep-wake schedule required by the environment and his/her circadian pattern.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs include: physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization needs. According to Maslow, the individual attempts to fill these needs beginning with the lower level and working toward higher levels. When these needs are not met reactions such as fear, lack, and compulsiveness may occur (Rowan, 1999). These stressful reactions may affect sleep patterns.
During sleep, there are five phases of sleep: stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. These stages progress in a repetitive cycle from stage 1 to REM sleep (NINDS, 2003).
Around 20 percent of sleep time is spent in REM sleep. Infants spend about half of their sleep time in REM sleep. During REM sleep breathing becomes more rapid, irregular, and shallow, eyes jerk rapidly in various directions, and limb muscles become temporarily paralyzed. The heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and males develop penile erections. The first REM sleep period tends to occur about 70 to 90 minutes after falling asleep. A complete sleep cycle is around 90 to 120 minutes. The first sleep cycles contain short REM periods and long deep sleep periods, later REM sleep periods increase in length and deep sleep decreases (NINDS, 2003).
During stage 1 (2 to 5% of sleep time), which is light sleep, people drift in and out of sleep and are awakened easily. The eyes move slowly and muscle activity slows down. Visual images are remembers when awak...