Ads from Google:


Google ad
End of ad
Google Adsense ad
End of ads.

Facts about insomnia

Abstract: Description and definition of insomnia, sleeping problems.

Web4Health logo
psychologist Independent medical expert answers on psychiatry and psychology

Facts about insomnia

Intelligent natural language question-answering in the area of psychology and psychiatry. Ask a simple question  Local help Info


Go the top of the page Top Forum iconDiscuss this Forum iconGet expert advice Printer Print
Question(s): 
Written by: Martin Winkler
First version: 22 Jul 2008.
Latest revision: 27 Aug 2008.

What is insomnia?

Answer:

Insomnia can be defined as any severe problem falling asleep or staying asleep. Insomnia is a rather common problem, affecting about 30% of all adults. Insomnia is more common among women and older adults but can occur in people of all ages and all social classes.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) primary insomnia is defined as a complaint of difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep or a non-restorative sleep for at least 1 month.

The definition of an international sleep medicine organization (Classification of Sleep Disorders-Revised ICSD-R) describes the term "psycho-physiological insomnia" as severe impairment of sleep with decreased functioning during wakefulness. Any sleep impairment longer than 6 month is regarded as a chronic problem.

Insomnia has to be differentiated from

  • circadian rhythm disorder (sleep periods or duration is not according the local clock or usual time)
  • parasomnias (behavioural events like sleepwalking or night terrors interfere with restorative sleep)
  • secondary insomnia (medical and psychiatric problems are the source of the sleep problems.
Other sleep-related disorders like sleep apnoea with additional respiratory impairments or problems or extended sleep or tiredness like narcolepsy are classified in separate sections.

To evaluate the degree of impairment you have to consider the daytime consequences of the problem. Usually insomnia will cause fatigue during the day, with loss of concentration or trouble focusing on tasks. Sleep problems can also have an influence on the mood or psychosomatic complains like hypertension. We know that different factors can contribute to insomnia including psychological issues or psychiatric disorders, environmental factors, stress or medical disorders. Alcohol and even some drugs can also cause chronic sleeping problems.

Short periods with disturbed sleep for a night or two usually do not cause any severe problems. But if it affects daily functions and lasts for weeks, months or even years you should consider professional help.

Intelligent natural language question-answering in the area of psychology and psychiatry. Ask a simple question:
Local help Info
Google ad
End of ad
Disclaimer: The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified psychiatrist or psychotherapist. It can not and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. If you find anything wrong, please notify us at .
Go to top of page To top of page
Web4Health in other languages: Finnish German Greek Italian Polish Russian Swedish

sleep-insomnia-what Copyright 2003-2017 Web4Health
Copyright 2003-2017 Web4Health.
Web4Health was selected as finalist for the 2008 Stockholm Challenge Award
Translate Web4Health
We seek voluntary translators who are interested in translating Web4Health to new languages. We can provide the servers, and pay you 50 % of the income from ads on pages, which you have translated. We are especially interested in translators from German To English, From German, Swedish or English to French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Finnish, Polish, Farsi, Russian.
web4health.info/en/tr/

Advertise here
Reach 300 000 visitors reading one million pages for a cost of 600 US $/month.
/en/ad/