Definition

A sleep disorder is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can interfere with mental and emotional function, due to their interference with REM sleep.

Common sleep disorders

The most common sleep disorders include:

• Bruxism: The sufferer involuntarily grinds his or her teeth while sleeping
• Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS): a sleep disorder of circadian rhythm
• Insomnia: Inability to fall asleep at will or at normal times
• Jet lag or desynchronosis: Temporary condition resulting in out of sync sleep patterns as a result of rapidly travelling across multiple time zones
• Narcolepsy: The condition of falling asleep spontaneously and unwillfully
• Night terror or Pavor nocturnus or sleep terror disorder: abrupt awakening from sleep with behavior consistent with terror
• Parasomnias: Include a variety of disruptive sleep-related events
• Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): Involuntary movement of arms and/or legs during sleep
• Rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD): Acting out violent or dramatic dreams while in REM sleep
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS): An irresistible urge to move legs while sleeping. Often accompanies PLMD.
• Sleep apnea: The obstruction of the airway during sleep
• Sleep paralysis: Conscious paralysis upon waking or falling asleep
• Sleepwalking or somnambulism: Engaging in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness (such as eating or dressing), which may include walking, without the conscious knowledge of the subject
• Snoring: Loud breathing patterns while sleeping, sometimes accompanying sleep apnea

Broad classifications of sleep disorders

• Dysomnias - Make it difficult to get to sleep, or to stay sleeping.
  • Insomnia
  • Narcolepsy
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Restless Leg Syndrome
  • Periodic limb movement disorder
  • Hypersomnia
    • Recurrent Hypersomnia - including Kleine-Levin Syndrome
    • Posttraumatic Hypersomnia
    • "Healthy" Hypersomnia
  • Delayed sleep phase syndrome
  • Advanced sleep phase syndrome
• Parasomnias
  • REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder
  • Sleep Terror
  • Sleepwalking (or Somnambulism)
  • Tooth-grinding
  • Bedwetting or sleep enuresis.
  • Sudden infant death syndrome or (SIDS)

• Medical or Psychiatric Related Sleep Disorders
  • Psychoses (like Schizophrenia)
  • Mood disorders
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Panic
  • Alcoholism
• Sleeping sickness - can be carried by the Tsetse fly
• Snoring - Not a disorder in and of itself, but it can be the symptoms of deeper problems.

Common causes of sleep disorders

Changes in life style, such as shift work change (SWC), can contribute to sleep disorders.

Other problems that can affect sleep:

• Back problems
• Neck problems
• Sciatica
• Incontinence
• Various drugs - Many drugs can affect the ratio of the various stages of sleep, thus affecting the overall quality of sleep. Poor sleep can lead to accumulation of Sleep debt.

A sleep diary can be used to help diagnose, and measure improvements in sleep disorders.

According to Dr. William Dement, of the Stanford Sleep Center, anyone who snores and has daytime drowsiness should be evaluated for sleep disorders.

Treatments

See sleep hygiene.

External links

• SleepChannel's sleep disorder site
• SleepNet.com's sleep disorder information
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine
• Somno Med's Sleep Disorder Information