chronotherapy

noun

chro·​no·​ther·​a·​py ˌkrä-nō-ˈther-ə-pē 

ˌkrō-

1

: treatment of a sleep disorder (such as insomnia) by changing sleeping and waking times in an attempt to reset the patient's biological clock

2

or chronotherapeutics

ˌkrä-nə-ˌther-ə-ˈpyü-tiks 

ˌkrō-

: the administration of medication or treatment in coordination with the body's circadian rhythms to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects

Examples of chronotherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The growing understanding of circadian rhythms also could offer help through what's known as chronotherapy. —Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 13 June 2023

In another cancer trial, tailoring chemotherapy to these daily rhythms—a practice known as chronotherapy—made the same drugs more effective and reduced the frequency of toxic side effects. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2012

Certainly, Benedetti has never been offered pharmaceutical funding to carry out his trials of chronotherapy. —Linda Geddes, Smithsonian, 23 Jan. 2018

San Raffaele Hospital first introduced triple chronotherapy in 1996. —Linda Geddes, Smithsonian, 23 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

chrono- + therapy

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

chronotherapy

noun

chro·​no·​ther·​a·​py ˌkrän-ə-ˈther-ə-pē, ˌkrō-nə- 

plural chronotherapies

1

: treatment of a sleep disorder (as insomnia) by changing sleeping and waking times in an attempt to reset the patient's biological clock

A nondrug treatment called chronotherapy can be used to "re-set" the body clock.

—Tara Parker-Pope, The Wall Street Journal

2

or chronotherapeutics

-ˌther-ə-ˈpyüt-iks 

: the administration of medication or treatment in coordination with the body's circadian rhythms to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects

Chronotherapy is the relatively new practice of timed treatment.

—The Daily News of Los Angeles