Webinar Based Exam

2 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

BASE is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. BASE maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

DESCRIPTION

Circadian rhythm disruption can cause insomnia symptoms (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2023), and misalignment between endogenous circadian rhythms and behavior/environmental cycles can cause disturbed glucose metabolism and increased type II diabetes risk (Qian & Scheer, 2016), increased risk for mood disorders (Walker et al., 2020), and increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and myocardial infarction (Touitou et al., 2017). Thus, is is important for physical and mental health to behaviorally entrain endogenous circadian rhythms.

This lecture will cover the cellular and biological mechanisms regulating circadian rhythm, and the impact of environment (e.g., light [Tähkämö et al., 2019], food [Manoogian et al., 2019], temperature) and behavior (e.g., exercise [Pobocik et al., 2020], socializing) on circadian rhythm. At the end of this lecture, clinicians will be able to identify client behaviors that are contributing to circadian misalignment, and be able to provide interventions that target circadian entrainment.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Describe the cellular and neurobiological mechanisms that regulate circadian rhythm 

• Describe how environmental cues (light, temperature) and behaviors (eating, exercise) serve as cues to entrain circadian rhythm 

• Integrate knowledge of how behaviors and environment may regulate/dysregulate circadian rhythm entrainment in work with clients 

• Critique common myths about sleep and sleep regulation 

AUDIENCE

This program is appropriate for licensed psychologists and other mental health practitioners who utilize evidence-based therapy approaches, interested in their knowledge of circadian rhythm and behavioral sleep medicine. Training is at an introductory level.

RESOURCES

American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (2023). International classification of sleep disorders (3rd ed., text rev.). American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Manoogian, E. N. C., Chaix, A., & Panda, S. (2019). When to Eat: The Importance of Eating Patterns in Health and Disease. Journal of biological rhythms, 34(6), 579–581

Pobocik, K.M., Rentzell, S.A.V., Leonard, A.J., Daye, A.N., & Evans, E.S. (2020). Influence of Aerobic Exercise on Sleep and Salivary Melatonin in Men. International Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine, 6(161)

Qian, J., & Scheer, F. A. J. L. (2016). Circadian System and Glucose Metabolism: Implications for Physiology and Disease. Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM, 27(5), 282–293

Tähkämö, L., Partonen, T., & Pesonen, A. K. (2019). Systematic review of light exposure impact on human circadian rhythm. Chronobiology international, 36(2), 151–170

Touitou, Y., Reinberg, A., & Touitou, D. (2017). Association between light at night, melatonin secretion, sleep deprivation, and the internal clock: Health impacts and mechanisms of circadian disruption. Life sciences, 173, 94–106

Walker, W. H., 2nd, Walton, J. C., DeVries, A. C., & Nelson, R. J. (2020). Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health. Translational psychiatry, 10(1), 2

PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

There is no commercial support for this CE program, instructor, content of instruction, or any other relationship that could be construed as a conflict of interest. There is no endorsement of products.

Study Guide