Psychological sleep disorders

Importance of REM sleep REM – Rapid eye movement & dreaming Prolonged periods of lack of REM = feel disorientated, memory problems & paranoia Support from studies of rats where prolonged periods of sleep deprivation led to death Therefore sleep disorders are serious & potentially fatal!

What do sleep disorder clinics investigate? Look at physiological E.g. snoring & breathing problems that affect sleep & psychological E.g. to do with mind & brain & mental health

Types of sleep disorders Psychological sleep disorders have their symptoms listed in the DSM This manual helps diagnosis of mental illnesses

2 types of sleep disorders Primary – these are problems in their own right rather than having any other cause E.g. problems waking up, staying asleep or getting to sleep

Secondary – are a result of another problem E.g. pain, jet lag, stress etc

4 categories of sleep disorders 1. Insomnia – where someone cannot get to sleep or stay asleep Most common sleep disorder Diagnosis is made when the individual’s activities are impaired as a result of lack of sleep Insomnia gets worse with age Mental illness, stressful events or certain prescribed drugs can cause insomnia

Insomnia can be treated with drugs rather than requiring the help of a sleep disorder clinic Sufferers could also be taught relaxation or to focus on positive thoughts at bedtime These can be taught at a sleep clinic BUT do not have to be

2. Hypersomnia – is where the individual is sleepy all of the time Can be caused by a brain disorder called narcolepsy – sudden attacks of sleep during the day May also be a result of poor sleep at night – e.g. due to breathing problems

3. Circadian rhythm disorders – a circadian rhythm is a body rhythm which occurs once in a 24 hour period e.g. sleep- wake cycle A normal sleep pattern would be 5 cycles of the of the sleep stages If the sleep-wake cycle is affected then it disrupts our body clock E.g. shift workers But this disorder can occur when there is seemingly no reason Use of bright lights at certain times can help to reset the body clock & thus the sleep- wake cycle is restored

4. Parasomnias – happen when the person is asleep E.g. sleep-walking, nightmares, sleep terrors Children are more likely to sleep walk than adults Also more likely if male Occurs during non-REM sleep

Sleep terrors also occur during non-REM sleep The individual wakes up because they are agitated Also more common in children than adults Parasomnias also include bedwetting & teeth grinding

REM sleep behaviour disorder is when the muscle paralysis associated with REM sleep does not happen These sleep disorders may involve violent movements & language which wouldn’t normally be seen in REM These disorders can be treated by drugs such as Benzodiazepines (these have a calming effect) Relaxation therapy is also used

Consolidation task Collaborative task – work in groups of 4 Each of you will take 1 of the types of sleep disorders Individual task – you have 8 mins to learn your type and decide how you are going to help others in your group to remember it The more distinctive you make it – the more easily they will remember it. Group task – each of you has 3 mins to explain your sleep disorder to the rest of the group. Whole class – true or false quiz