Sleep disturbances Flashcards
Dyssomnia
- Definition
- What stage of NREM sleep
- Causes
A group of sleep disorders characterised by consistent difficulty initiating and maintaining/timing sleep.
Stage 1 NREM sleep
- genetics
- poor sleep habits
A type of dyssomnia
Sleep-onset insomnia, a type of dyssomnia characterised by consistent difficulty initiating sleep.
Parasomnia
- definition
stage of NREM sleep
- causes
A group of sleep disorders which involve engaging in abnormal activities or tasks while sleeping.
Stages 3 & 4 NREM sleep
A type of parasomnia
Sleep walking, which involves standing up and undertaking actions or tasks while asleep.
Circadian rhythm phase disorders
Involve sleep disruption that occurs when the internal body clock is malfunctioning due to a mismatch between internal body cues and the external environment.
Types of circadian rhythm phase disorders
- Sleep-wake cycle shift in adolescence
- Shift work
- Jet lag
Sleep-wake cycle shift in adolescence
A change in the timing of the major sleep episode, either forward or backwards. Adolescence experience a biological delayed release of melatonin causing them to feel tired later (1-2 hours).
Sleep-wake cycle shift in adolescence - effects
- excessive sleepiness
- difficulties with mood regulation and behaviour control
- problems with staying motivated
Shift work
Work times that are outside of normal sleep hours at night. It is a disruption of their sleep-wake cycle due to roster changes that require readjustment of their sleep-wake cycle to a new work cycle.
Shift work - effects
- excessive sleepiness
- reduced alertness
- insomnia
Jet lag
A disturbance caused by travel shifting to a new time zone, resulting in a mismatch between their circadian biological clock and external environment.
Jet lag - effects
- reduced alertness
- difficulties initiating sleep
- impaired concentration
Partial sleep deprivation
When an individual sleeps for the same duration within a 24 hour period, but the sleep duration is shorter than required or the quality of sleep is poor.
3 types of effects of partial sleep deprivation
Affective functioning
Behavioural functioning
Cognitive functioning
Affective functioning - effects
Expression of emotions
- decreased emotional control
- irritability
- anxiety
Behavioural functioning - effects
Ability to control one’s behaviour
- slower performance
- clumsiness
Cognitive functioning - effects
Mental processes
- Difficulty concentrating & making decisions
- Poor memory
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Impaired creativity
Interventions used to treat sleep disorders
CBT
Bright light therapy
CBT
- what is it used to treat
- processes involved
A type of psychotherapy based on the assumption that the way people feel and behave is largely a product of the way they think. It aims to identify, assess and correct faulty patterns of thinking or behaviours that may be affecting mental h+w.
It is used to treat mental health problems and disorders.
It involves individuals understanding and addressing their worries and negative thoughts that may be preventing them from sleeping.
Bright Light Therapy
- what is it used to treat
- processes involved
Uses timed exposure of light to the eyes with the aim of shifting an individual’s sleep-wake cycle to a desired or more appropriate schedule.
It is used to treat circadian rhythm phase disorders by resetting the biological clock.
Artificial light emitting devices are placed on a table. The individual keeps a certain distance away from the light, while undertaking activities such as reading. The light ultimately inhibits melatonin secretion.
