The effects of sleep deprivation

Focus on Performance

Unfortunately, when it comes to sleep, shift workers face the harsh reality that most people do not function well when they work at night and sleep during the day. Shift work upsets the intricate network of interrelated clocks and schedules that keep the human body functioning efficiently. Circadian rhythms, or a person's sleep/wake cycle, is one factor that controls a person's internal network of clocks and schedules. Some experts believe that if a person disrupts this cycle, other routines (e.g., when a person gets hungry) also get off cycle.1

The average person gets 8 hours of sleep for every 16 hours they are awake. Thus, individuals exist in a daily equilibrium in which a relatively small amount of sleep loss causes increased sleepiness. Continued reduction in sleep results in a larger sleep debt and individuals can cope with this sleep deficit in different ways. When the sleep debt reaches a threshold where internal coping behaviors (e.g., the ability to physically stay awake or alert) become overwhelmed, sleep will be imminent.2

Research has shown that while sleep loss has negative effects on three basic areas-motor performance, cognitive function, and mood-it has the strongest effect on mood and weakest on motor functions.3 Total deprivation of under 45 hours left subjects better able to cope with simple and brief tests of cognitive function. With partial deprivation, subjects did best on complex, short, cognitive tests, which suggests that attention span is the parameter most degraded by partial sleep deprivation. All subjects did better on shorter motor control tests versus longer ones.

Regardless of the level of deprivation, any loss of sleep can have varying effects on an individual's ability to deal with common day-to-day situations. For police officers, such episodes can have catastrophic results, such as motor vehicle accidents, shootings, inappropriate use of force, or general improper attitudes.4

The Problem

Similar to other law enforcement agencies, managers at the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Police Department (APD) must contend with scheduling officers who work the night, late afternoon, and evening shifts for daytime court appearances. Unfortunately, due to varying schedules, attending court deprives officers of sleep. Oftentimes, officers who work the night shift may have four or five court appearances scheduled throughout the day, which leaves little time...