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Idiopathic Insomnia

Description

Idiopathic insomnia is a lifelong disorder that results in extreme sleeplessness among patients, presumably as a result of a lack in neurologic control over the sleep-wake center of the brain. Simply said, sufferer’s body cannot determine when to fall asleep or how long to stay asleep. This disorder cannot be attributed to childhood trauma or medical problems like other forms of insomnia.

Diagnosis

This disorder is rarely seen as the sole cause of sleeplessness among patients simply because chronic idiopathic insomnia encourages poor sleep hygiene and causes sufferers to make unhealthy associations between things or activities associated with sleep and the act itself. The diagnosis for this form of insomnia comes as a result of a complaint of chronic insomnia that typically developed in early childhood. Patients will also complain of a lack of productivity during the day as well as decreased feelings of general well-being.

Treatment

This form of insomnia is treated by developing good sleep hygiene, which includes avoiding alcohol and caffeine, getting daily exercise and maintaining a normal time to sleep and wake-up. Medication is sometimes prescribed to patients for a short time.

Source: Adapted from International Classification of Sleep Disorders Diagnostic & Coding Manual, American Academy of Sleep Medicine.