Information on Sleep Disorders

(Adapted from the International Classification of Sleep Disorders,  American Academy of Sleep Medicine  2006.)

INSOMNIA

Adjustment Insomnia – insomnia may develop temporarily at the same time as a stressful situation occurs in someone’s life. When the stressful setting resolves this type of insomnia usually resolves.

Psychophysiological Insomnia – people with this type of insomnia often react to psychologically stressful situations by developing physical discomforts or complaints. This type of insomnia is often a learned insomnia, developing secondary to a completely different originating problem.

Paradoxical Insomnia – the individual has severe complaints of insomnia but no objective evidence of disturbed sleep or daytime impairment.

Idiopathic Insomnia – this is a lifelong difficulty getting adequate sleep with no obvious reason. In some cases the difficulty may be initiating sleep or maintaining sleep. This can only be diagnosed when all other causes of insomnia have been reasonably excluded.

Insomnia due to Mental Disorder – Insomnia presenting as a symptom of an identified psychiatric disorder. It tends to improve and worsen simultaneously with the psychiatric illness.

Inadequate Sleep Hygiene – Many habits are not conducive to falling asleep or sleeping soundly. Some examples include caffeine or exercise too close to bedtime. This is a very common cause of insomnia and many factors can be to blame.

Insomnia due to Drug or Substance – disruption of sleep is caused by a substance, for example caffeine, prescription medications, recreational drugs, alcohol, etc.

Insomnia due to Medical Condition – Disturbed or non-refreshing sleep because of a medical problem such as asthma, chronic pain, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, hot flashes, etc.

Insomnia not due to Substance or Known Physiologic Condition (Non Organic Insomnia NOS) – Insomnia, not otherwise classified, suspected to be related to a mental, behavioral or psychological factors

Physiologic (Organic) Insomnia Unspecified – Insomnia, not otherwise classified, but suspected to be related to a medical disorder, substance use or a physiological state.