Causes Of Insomnia - 6 Types Of Insomnia Based On The Causes

According to the causative factor, insomnia may be classified into 6 categories -

#1. Psycho Physiologic Insomnia

• Patient imagines he would not be able to sleep at night.

• Remains awake as a result of his deliberate attempts to sleep.

• Sleeps easily at odd hours, when not trying to sleep.

#2. Extrinsic Insomnia

It occurs as a result of extrinsic factors that interfere with sleep. This includes-

a. Adjustment Sleep Disorder (Transient Situational Insomnia)

This can occur due to:

1. Change in the sleeping environment, such as:

• Hotel 
• Hospital bed
• Relative's  house

2. Before or after a significant life event, such as:

• New job
• Loss of a family member
• Illness
• Interview or exams

Recovery generally occurs rapidly, certainly within 2 to 3 weeks.

b. Inadequate Sleep Hygiene

This includes certain habits prior to sleep or a bedroom environment that promotes wakefulness. For e.g. 

• Trying to sleep with the television on.

• Husband or wife with a habit of moving limbs during sleep

• Room mate who snores loudly 

• Heavy dinner

• Rigorous exercise before sleep

#3. Altitude Insomnia

• Lack of concentration of oxygen at high altitude may result in development of periodic breathing.

• Frequent awakenings and poor quality of sleep. 

• Insomnia is generally worst on first few nights at high altitude but may persist longer.

#4. Drug or Alcohol-dependent Insomnia

Sleep may be disturbed by ingestion of a wide variety of substances. Most common among these ares-

• Caffeine

Caffeine can disturb the sleep for up to 8 to 14 hours after ingestion.

• Alcohol

Although alcohol can increase drowsiness and cause early sleep onset, even moderate amounts of alcohol increase awakenings after sleep onset by interfering with the ability of the brain to maintain sleep.

• Nicotine

Heavy smoking (more than a pack a day) causes difficulty falling asleep.

• Acute withdrawal of Hypnotics

This can lead to severe rebound insomnia.

#5. Insomnia associated with psychiatric disorders

Psychiatric disorders are often associated with persistent insomnia.

• Depression is usually associated with fragmented sleep and decreased total sleep time. 

• In Manic disorders sleeplessness is a cardinal feature and an important early sign of impending mania in bipolar cases.

#6. Insomnia related to medical conditions

Persistent insomnias are also related to a wide variety of medical conditions, such as:

• Pain
• Respiratory distress 
• Uremia
• Thyroid disorders

More articles on insomnia:


Chronic Insomnia: Can Your Sleeplessness Be Diagnosed As Insomnia?


Insomnia Relief: 12 Tips To Cure Insomnia Without Medicines


Cured Case Of Insomnia - A Report