# AI recommends standard sleep hygiene for delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) without screening for comorbid depression or recommending chronotherapy (bright light therapy, melatonin timing)

- **ID:** `mental-health/ai-recommends-sleep-hygiene-for-delayed-sleep-phase-without-chronotherapy`
- **Domain:** mental-health
- **Category:** harmful_advice
- **Error Code:** `DSWPD-HYGIENE-001`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

DSWPD is a circadian rhythm disorder requiring chronotherapy (timed bright light exposure and melatonin) to shift sleep phase, not standard sleep hygiene which is ineffective and may worsen sleep anxiety.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| v1.8.0 | active | — | — |
| v2.5.1 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Recommend timed bright light therapy: 'Expose yourself to 10,000 lux bright light for 30 minutes immediately upon waking. Use a light box or go outside. Avoid bright light 3-4 hours before desired bedtime.'** (82% success)
   ```
   Recommend timed bright light therapy: 'Expose yourself to 10,000 lux bright light for 30 minutes immediately upon waking. Use a light box or go outside. Avoid bright light 3-4 hours before desired bedtime.'
   ```
2. **Provide melatonin timing guidelines: 'Take 0.5-1mg of melatonin 3-5 hours before your desired bedtime (not at bedtime). For example, if you want to sleep at 11pm, take melatonin at 6-8pm. Consult a doctor before starting.'** (78% success)
   ```
   Provide melatonin timing guidelines: 'Take 0.5-1mg of melatonin 3-5 hours before your desired bedtime (not at bedtime). For example, if you want to sleep at 11pm, take melatonin at 6-8pm. Consult a doctor before starting.'
   ```
3. **Recommend gradual phase advancement: 'Advance your sleep schedule by 15-30 minutes every 2-3 days. Use bright light therapy upon waking and avoid naps longer than 20 minutes during the transition.'** (75% success)
   ```
   Recommend gradual phase advancement: 'Advance your sleep schedule by 15-30 minutes every 2-3 days. Use bright light therapy upon waking and avoid naps longer than 20 minutes during the transition.'
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Recommending a fixed early bedtime and wake time without gradual phase advancement, which increases sleep onset latency and frustration (85% fail)
- **** — Advising caffeine avoidance and screen time reduction as primary interventions without addressing the underlying circadian phase delay (75% fail)
- **** — Suggesting melatonin supplementation without specifying timing (3-5 hours before desired bedtime) or dosage (0.5-1mg), risking phase shifting in wrong direction (80% fail)