Unit 3 Psychology, A.O.S 3RAH

A disorder referring to any sleep problem that disrupts the normal NREM-REM sleep cycle, including the onset of sleep.

Can include difficulties in: Falling asleep Staying asleep Waking up Staying awake

If a sleep phenomenon continues to reoccur, it becomes a sleep disorder.

More often than not, sleep disorders can be successfully treated.

Is a problem that involves continually getting insufficient or poor-quality sleep.

3 distinct patterns of sleep usually associated with insomnia: Difficulty falling sleep

(sleep-onset insomnia) Difficulty staying asleep

(sleep-maintenance insomnia)

Awakening prematurely from sleep

(sleep-maintenance insomnia)

Other symptoms include: Failure to fall asleep within

30 minutes after intending to go to sleep.

Awakening for longer than 30 minutes during the night.

Consistently reduced amount of total sleep.

Complaint of poor sleep. Feeling tired during the day.

Psychologists diagnose insomnia if one or more of the disruptive sleep patterns is present in conjunction with some of the specific symptoms for at least 50% of the time over several weeks.

Effects: More body

movements than a ‘normal sleeper’

Higher heart rate Increased body

temp Higher level of body

arousal

Causes Medical problems Severe and

persistent pain Excessive use of

alcohol and/or drugs Changes to sleep

schedule

Causes: Stress, fear or anxiety about a

particular problem Short-term causes:

Relationship problems Death or serious illness of

someone close Upcoming important events Significant life changes

These problems can sometimes lead to long-term insomnia.

E.g. when a person worries about not sleeping can result in more sleeplessness.

Fear of what can happen during sleep (e.g. dying or nightmares) can keep people awake.

Medication (prescribed by doctors)

Drugs (however only for the short term as they decrease the amount of stage 4 NREM and REM sleep and affect the quality of sleep)

Dealing with underlying cause of insomnia

Relaxation or stress management techniques

Develop regular sleep routines

Exercise (regular)

Recent research on increasing a person’s melatonin levels.

Hormone secreted by pineal gland (located at top of brain stem).

Regulates naturally occurring bodily rhythms

Research on 12 year old insomniacs found that those who increased their melatonin levels slept significantly better than those who didn’t increase their melatonin levels.

Involves excessive sleepiness when awake, or sleep of excessive duration.

People with disorder require 12 hours of sleep per night.

Difficulty in waking. Fall asleep quickly

and wake up confused and disorientated.

Feel drowsy during the day even if have had sufficient sleep.

Several conditions that may result in hyperinsomnia: Insomnia Depression Substance abuse Sleep apnea

No long-term effects, however the disruption sleep-waking cycle of the individual can affect the functioning of the individual.

Is a temporary suspension in breathing for short periods during sleep.

Sleepers stop breathing throughout the night for periods of time usually lasting from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

May end in a loud snore, body jerk, arm flinging or sitting upright.

Sufferers feel chronically tired and show a decline in their attention and learning abilities.

Two main causes: Failure of the ‘breathing

centres’ of the brain to maintain normal breathing

A narrowing of the airway into the body, resulting from:▪ An obstruction in the

airway▪ Shape of jaw, throat or

nose▪ Excess of fatty tissue

around the throat Other possible causes:▪ Illness▪ Medication

Treatment depends on the cause.

Tranquilisers are used to relax the throat muscles.

Surgery to clear obstruction in the airways.

Dental appliances to reposition the tongue

A nasal mask and pump to maintain regularity of breathing during sleep.