Sleep disturbances

Question 1

Dyssomnia
- Definition
- What stage of NREM sleep
- Causes

Answer 1

A group of sleep disorders characterised by consistent difficulty initiating and maintaining/timing sleep.

Stage 1 NREM sleep

• genetics
• poor sleep habits

Question 2

A type of dyssomnia

Answer 2

Sleep-onset insomnia, a type of dyssomnia characterised by consistent difficulty initiating sleep.

Question 3

Parasomnia
- definition
stage of NREM sleep
- causes

Answer 3

A group of sleep disorders which involve engaging in abnormal activities or tasks while sleeping.

Stages 3 & 4 NREM sleep

Question 4

A type of parasomnia

Answer 4

Sleep walking, which involves standing up and undertaking actions or tasks while asleep.

Question 5

Circadian rhythm phase disorders

Answer 5

Involve sleep disruption that occurs when the internal body clock is malfunctioning due to a mismatch between internal body cues and the external environment.

Question 6

Types of circadian rhythm phase disorders

Answer 6

• Sleep-wake cycle shift in adolescence
• Shift work
• Jet lag

Question 7

Sleep-wake cycle shift in adolescence

Answer 7

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).

Question 8

Sleep-wake cycle shift in adolescence - effects

Answer 8

• excessive sleepiness
• difficulties with mood regulation and behaviour control
• problems with staying motivated

Question 9

Shift work

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Shift work - effects

Answer 10

• excessive sleepiness
• reduced alertness
• insomnia

Question 11

Jet lag

Answer 11

A disturbance caused by travel shifting to a new time zone, resulting in a mismatch between their circadian biological clock and external environment.

Question 12

Jet lag - effects

Answer 12

• reduced alertness
• difficulties initiating sleep
• impaired concentration

Question 13

Partial sleep deprivation

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

3 types of effects of partial sleep deprivation

Answer 14

Affective functioning
Behavioural functioning
Cognitive functioning

Question 15

Affective functioning - effects

Answer 15

Expression of emotions
- decreased emotional control
- irritability
- anxiety

Question 16

Behavioural functioning - effects

Answer 16

Ability to control one’s behaviour
- slower performance
- clumsiness

Question 17

Cognitive functioning - effects

Answer 17

Mental processes
- Difficulty concentrating & making decisions
- Poor memory
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Impaired creativity

Question 18

Interventions used to treat sleep disorders

Answer 18

CBT
Bright light therapy

Question 19

CBT
- what is it used to treat
- processes involved

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Bright Light Therapy
- what is it used to treat
- processes involved

Answer 20

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.