VP-VEC-162-0101 - EFFECTS OF RAPID TRANSMERIDIAN TRAVEL
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An observational study to investigate the effects of rapid transmeridian travel across 5 and 8 time zones
IRAS ID
189396
Contact name
Debra Skene
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 12 days
Research summary
Jet lag disorder is a temporary disruption to the internal body clock because of time zone changes. People who suffer from jet lag disorder have symptoms such as insomnia (sleeplessness) when sleeping at night in the new time zone and/or excessive daytime sleepiness during the scheduled wake episode in the new time zone. Jet lag disorder is often accompanied by other symptoms such as gastrointestinal symptoms, impaired concentration and memory, impaired coordination, weakness, light-headedness, headache, fatigue, general malaise, decreased appetite, indigestion, depressed mood, irritability, and anxiety and menstrual symptoms in women.
Of those travellers who travel across time zones, it is reported as many as 80% suffer from jet lag disorder or sleep disruption.
It is also understood that most people who travel Eastwards (advancing sleep hours) find it harder to adapt to their new time zones than most people who travel Westwards (delaying wake hours). This is because it takes longer for people to adjust when their bedtime and wake up time will move to earlier in the day (phase advance) than later in the day (phase delay).
Currently there are no treatments or cure for Jet Lag Disorder, moreover, there are no validated instruments or models for studying the effects of jet lag disorder.
Vanda Pharmaceuticals plans to carry out an observational study that is aimed at informing the development of a larger clinical trial to evaluate an investigational treatment for Jet Lag Disorder.
This study will involve about 20 participants at up to 4 different centres worldwide. The study will take about 6 weeks for qualified participants.REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1732
Date of REC Opinion
22 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion