Insomnia (cont.)
What are other causes of insomnia?
Besides the conditions listed previously, there are other types of insomnia that
are not necessarily linked to an underlying condition. Some of the common types
of insomnia are listed in this section.
Psychophysiological insomnia
Psychophysiological insomnia or primary insomnia is a type of insomnia in
which learned behaviors prevent sleep. Individuals with this condition are
unable to relax their minds (racing thoughts) and have an increased mental
function when they try to fall sleep. This may become a long-term issue, and
going to bed becomes associated with an increased level of anxiety and mental
arousal, leading to chronic insomnia. This condition may be present in about 15%
of people who undergo formal sleep studies for evaluation of chronic insomnia.
Idiopathic insomnia
Idiopathic insomnia (without an obvious cause)
(childhood onset insomnia or
life-long insomnia) is a less common condition (1% of young adults or
adolescents) that starts in childhood and may continue into adulthood. These
individuals have difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep and have chronic
daytime fatigue. Other more common conditions need to be evaluated and ruled out
before this diagnosis is made. This condition may run in families.
Paradoxical insomnia
Paradoxical insomnia is also called subjective insomnia or sleep state
misconception. In this condition, individuals may report and complain of
insomnia;, however, they would have a normal pattern of sleep if they were to
have a formal overnight sleep study done.
What are the risk factors for insomnia?
There are no specific risk factors for insomnia because of the variety of
underlying causes that may lead to insomnia. The medical and psychiatric
conditions listed earlier may be considered risk factors for insomnia if
untreated or difficult to treat. Some of the emotional and environmental
situations that were also mentioned above may act as
risk factor for insomnia.
Next: What are the symptoms of insomnia? »
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