What is actigraphy recommended for?

Actigraphy is primarily a method for measuring and analyzing sleep-wake patterns, and it is particularly effective for conditions like Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder (ASPD) and Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD). These disorders involve a misalignment of the individual’s sleep-wake cycle with societal norms, leading to difficulties in falling asleep or waking at conventional times.

Actigraphy provides an objective way to track an individual's sleep duration and activity levels over extended periods, which is particularly useful for identifying the difficulty in falling asleep or waking associated with these disorders. It captures data without the need for a sleep lab, allowing patients to maintain their usual routines while providing clinicians with valuable information about sleep patterns and behaviors.

In contrast, while actigraphy can provide some insights into insomnia and general sleep quality, it is not precise enough to diagnose insomnia on its own. Sleep apnea monitoring typically requires polysomnography for accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, actigraphy does not provide detailed information about REM cycles, which require more sophisticated measurement techniques to capture the full intricacies of sleep architecture. Thus, the recommendation of actigraphy for ASPD and DSPD aligns with its strengths in monitoring broader sleep-wake patterns rather than specific sleep disorders.