chapter 10 Flashcards
Sleep disturbances:
Any sleep-related problem that disrupts an individual’s normal sleep–wake cycle,
sleep disorder
Any sleep disturbance that regularly disrupts sleep, causing distress or impairment in important areas of everyday life during normal waking hours.
primary sleep disorder
a sleep disorder that cannot be attributed to another condition, a mental disorder or medical problem, or use of a substance such as a legal or illegal drug. The sleep disorder is the main, or ‘primary’, cause of the sleep problem. E.g. insomnia
secondly sleep disorder
involves a prominent sleep problem that is a by-product of or results from another condition, or use of a substance. E.g. due to back pain or stress
dyssomnia
involves a problem with a sleep–wake cycle process (such as difficulty falling or staying asleep)
parasomnia
involves disruption of sleep by an abnormal event (such as a frightening dream that awakens the sleeper).
sleep phenomena
such as dreams and walking and talking during sleep recur and disrupt sleep, then this is also considered to be a sleep disorder.
insomnia
is a problem which involves continually getting insufficient sleep.
• A failure to fall asleep within 30 minutes after intended time.
• Awakening for more than 30 minutes during the night.
• A consistently reduced amount of total sleep.
causes of insomnia
Psychological causes of insomnia
short term insomnia are emotional or social disturbances including relationship problems, the death or serious illness
Physiological causes of insomnia
medical problems, severe or persistent pain
parasomnia- sleep walking
sometimes conducting routine activities.
Occurs in stage 3 or four of NREM sleep and can go on for up to half an hour (Usually between 5 and 15 minutes)
Circadian rhythm phase disorders
A sleep disorder involving sleep disruption that is primarily due to a mismatch between an individual’s sleep-wake pattern and the pattern that is desired or required.
Circadian rhythm phase disorders causes
- a naturally occurring change or a malfunction of biological mechanisms
- a mismatch between an individual’s sleep–wake cycle and the sleep–wake schedule required by their school, work or social schedule
Three examples of circadian rhythm phase disorders include:
- the sleep–wake cycle shift in adolescence
- disturbance of the cycle through shift work
- air travel across time zones
sleep-wake cycle shift
A change in the timing of the major sleep episode, either through forward or backward movement.
Adolescence tend to have sleep problems to day time issues
– Takes ages to get to sleep – Not enough sleep on week nights – Difficulty waking up in the morning difficulties - Difficulty concentrating in class and lack of motivation – Drifting off in class – Mood swings
psycho-social influences
– Working late Psycho-social influences – exerting independence
– Socialising via computer/phones
– Staying up late to watch TV
shift work- night shift
disrupts this cycle and can cause sleep-related problems such as:
Sleep quality and quantity
Often complain of being tired (both on and off the job)
difficulty falling asleep or sleeping well during the day (often sleep less eg. 1-4 hrs less than a non-shift worker)
Accumulating a sleep debt
jet lag
A sleep disorder due to a disturbance to the circadian sleep–wake cycle caused by rapid travel across multiple time zones.
effectsboth physical and psychological symptoms that may leave us with sleep problems
jet lag problems
Difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep
- excessive sleepiness
- reduced daytime alertness
sleep deprivation
going without adequate or quality sleep
partial sleep deprivation
to go without sleep SOME of the required amount of sleep within a 24 hour period
Total sleep deprivation
having no sleep at all
effects of prolonged partial sleep deprivation
– Decline in cognitive abilities
– Slower reactions/motor function
– Irrational and illogical behaviour
– Difficulty making decisions/problem solving – Short-term memory impairment
sleep inertia
the performance impairment that occurs immediately after awakening.
they are more likely to do POORLY on simple tasks and more able to COMPLETE a complex task.
microsleep
is a very short period of drowsiness or sleeping that occurs when the individual is apparently awake.
– Have no control over it
– Brainwaves resemble early Stage 1 NREM sleep
– Have no memory of duration of microsleep
recovering from sleep deprivation
– Do not need to fully compensate for the accrued sleep debt
– Most people recover with a few extra hours for a few nights
effects of partial sleep deprivation - affective functioning
Mood changes, heightened anxiety/depression, irritability, and lack of motivation.
effects of partial sleep deprivation - behavioural functioning
Slower reaction times, clumsiness, and risk-taking behaviours.
effects of partial sleep deprivation - Cognitive functioning
Lack of concentration, impaired memory (trouble with encoding, not retrieval), illogical/irrational thoughts, poor decision-making, and trouble with simple, monotonous tasks.
interventions to treat sleep disorders
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
substituting thoughts, behaviours and habits that inhibit sleep and replace with those that promote sleep
CBT
Includes the use of meditation, relaxation and visual imagery
• Effective in 70-80% of cases
• Treats underlying cause behind
insomnia
• The duration of therapy time can be a disadvantage
rem deprivation
Loss of motor coordination;
– poor concentration and memory;
NREM deprivation
A loss of NREM may prevent restoration of the body and its ability to replenish energy supplies.
sleep deprivation psychosis
after a few days w no sleep can lead to depersonalisation (loss of personal identity) and difficulty coping
can be reversed with sleep
