What are sleep-wake disorders and how are they diagnosed?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Sleep-wake disorders disrupt the natural timing of when you fall asleep and wake up. Doctors diagnose these conditions by reviewing your sleep patterns, medical history, and lifestyle, and may use specialized tests like sleep studies (polysomnography) or actigraphy to track sleep cycles.

Because symptoms of sleep-wake disorders often overlap with other health conditions—like anxiety, thyroid issues, or depression—getting clarity early matters. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you identify possible causes, understand what your symptoms may mean, and guide your next steps toward the right care.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn what causes sleep-wake disorders Discover if your symptoms need care Find out if it could be a sleep disorder See OTC options for sleep problems Find a sleep specialist near you Understand home remedies for sleep-wake issues Check if sleep problems need treatment

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Explanation

Sleep-wake disorders, also known as circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, happen when there is a problem with the timing of sleep. This means your body's internal clock is not in sync with the natural day-night cycle. These disorders can make you very sleepy during the day or keep you awake at night when you want to sleep.

Diagnosis

Sleep Diary: You might be asked to keep a sleep diary to track when you sleep and wake up each day.
Actigraphy: This is a special watch-like device that tracks your sleep patterns over several days or weeks.
Polysomnography: In some cases, a sleep study might be done to check for other sleep issues.

If you think you have a sleep-wake disorder, it is important to talk to a doctor. They can help figure out what is going on and suggest ways to help you sleep better. To better understand your symptoms and get personalized guidance, try Ubie's free AI symptom checker today.

(References)

Sun SY, & Chen GH. (2022). Treatment of Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders. Current neuropharmacology, 34493186.
Steele TA, St Louis EK, Videnovic A, & Auger RR. (2021). Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders: a Contemporary .... Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, 33844152.
Abbott SM, Reid KJ, & Zee PC. (2015). Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders. The Psychiatric clinics of North America, 26600110.

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