Primary Insomnia
Definition
Primary insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, or having non-refreshing sleep for at least 1 month without any known physical or mental condition.
See also: Insomnia concerns
Alternative Names
Insomnia - psychophysiological (learned); Chronic insomniaCauses
Insomnia is caused by many different things. The most common causes of insomnia are:
- Alcohol
- Anxiety
- Coffee
- Stress
About 25% of elderly people and about 10% of people in general have insomnia.
Secondary insomnia is insomnia caused by a medical condition. Depression is a very common cause of secondary insomnia. Often, insomnia is the symptom for which people with depression seek medical help.
References
Goetz, CG. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2003: 1207-1210.
Rakel P, ed. Conn’s Current Therapy 2005. 57th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2005:34-39.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by
URAC, also known as the American
Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is
the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and
accountability, verified by independent audit.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2005 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.