DARIEN, IL – A new clinical practice guideline from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine establishes evidence‑based recommendations for the management of shift work disorder in adults .
The guideline is published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine and is accompanied by a systematic review and meta‑analysis examining behavioral, pharmacologic, and circadian‑based interventions for shift work disorder, with outcomes relevant to both patients and clinicians.
Previous AASM practice parameters addressed circadian rhythm sleep‑wake disorders broadly and provided recommendations for commonly used interventions. The new guideline builds on this earlier work by applying a systematic, evidence‑graded approach to evaluate the benefits and potential harms of treatments specifically for shift work disorder.
“There is no one‑size‑fits‑all solution for shift work disorder,” said lead co-author Kenneth P. Wright, Jr., who has a doctorate in behavioral neuroscience and psychology and is a professor of distinction in integrative physiology and director of the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder. “Our recommendations reflect the reality that patients have different schedules, symptoms, and constraints, and clinicians need flexible, evidence‑based strategies to help them function safely and sleep effectively.”
Shift work disorder affects approximately 27% of adult shift workers and occurs when required work schedules overlap with an individual’s usual sleep timing for at least three months. The disorder is characterized by excessive sleepiness, sleep disturbance/insomnia, or both, resulting from circadian misalignment and insufficient sleep. Shift work disorder is commonly encountered in both primary care and sleep medicine settings.
The guideline emphasizes individualized treatment based on symptom profile, work schedule, and patient preferences. Key recommendations include:
The guideline also highlights the limited quality of evidence for many interventions and underscores the need for shared decision‑making and further research.
To develop this guideline, the AASM commissioned a task force of experts in sleep and circadian medicine to systematically review the published literature and develop updated recommendations for the management of shift work disorder, taking into consideration the certainty of evidence, beneficial and harmful effects, patient values and preferences, and resource use. The draft guideline was posted for public comment, and the AASM board of directors approved the final recommendations.
This guideline was endorsed by the Australasian Sleep Association, Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, the Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada, Sleep Charity, Project Sleep, and the Sleep Health Foundation.
The co-authors of the guideline are Dr. Sabra M. Abbott; Dr. Liza Ashbrook; Christopher L. Drake, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology; Erin Flynn-Evans, who has a doctorate in health and medical sciences; Sarah Framnes-DeBoer, who has a master's degree in biological sciences; Uzma Kazmi, who has a master's degree in public health; Kelly Keeler, who has a master's degree in biomedical sciences; Dr. Catherine McCall; Rebecca Morgan, who has a doctorate in health research methodology; Taylor Shaffer-Hodgeman, who has a master's degree in biology; and Dr. Lynn Marie Trotti.
View more AASM clinical practice guidelines and learn more about the guideline development process .
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Wright has served in advisory and consulting roles for multiple industry organizations and has received industry research support. Drake has served on advisory boards, consulted for pharmaceutical companies, participated in industry‑sponsored research and clinical trials, and served as a paid speaker for sleep‑related therapeutics. Shaffer‑Hodgeman is employed by the AASM, and Framnes‑DeBoer, Kazmi and Keeler were employed by the AASM at the time of their work on this guideline. Morgan is a paid consultant for the AASM. Trotti serves on the AASM board of directors and the Guideline Advisory Panel. The remaining task force members reported no relevant conflicts of interest.
To request a copy of the clinical practice guideline, “ Management of shift work disorder: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline ,” or the systematic review, meta-analysis, and GRADE assessment , or to arrange an interview with Wright or an AASM spokesperson, please contact the AASM at media@aasm.org . The guideline was published Oct. 24, 2026, in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine .
About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country ( aasm.org ).
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
Systematic review
People
Management of shift work disorder: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline
24-Oct-2026