Another discovery of this study was that most of these symptoms showed increasing impairment with greater frequency of sleep disturbance (Roth, 1999,pg. 7). When these types of symptoms are documented, the next step is for a physician to discover and eliminate the cause.
CAUSES.
The causes of insomnia are complex, and before we can identify a cause, we must attempt to classify the disorder. Insomnia can be classified as transient, intermittent, or.
chronic. Transient, or acute insomnia, only last in the short term, and is often caused by emotional or physical discomfort. Some examples of causes of acute insomnia are.
experiencing a significant life stress, acute illness, or even environmental disturbances, such as excessive noise, light or temperature. A change in the surrounding environment, or sleeping at a time inconsistent with the daily biological rhythm, can also cause the condition. Acute insomnia can also be a side effect of taking some types of medication (NCSDR, 1998, pg.7). When a patient is classified as having intermittent insomnia, it simply means that a patient suffers from acute insomnia off-and-on. The causes of intermittent insomnia are similar to those of transient insomnia.
To the contrary, chronic insomnia is constant, and its causes can be more complex. Chronic insomnia often results from a combination of factors, which can include physical or mental disorders. One of the most common causes of chronic.
insomnia is depression. Others include arthritis, kidney disease, heart failure, asthma, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and hyperthyroidism (NCSDR, 1998, pg.7).
Chronic insomnia can also be the result of behavioral factors. These include the misuse of caffeine, drinking alcohol before bedtime, and excessive napping in the.
afternoon or evening. These behaviors can prolong existing insomnia, or be the cause of it. Often, stopping these behaviors cures the disorder altogether.