Vishnumolakala Vaishnavi Group : a Course: Childhood Autism

 
Sleep disorders 
involve problems with the quality, timing, 
and amount of sleep, which result in daytime 
distress and impairment in functioning. 
Sleep-wake disorders often occur along with 
medical conditions or other mental health 
conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or 
cognitive disorders. There are several 
different types of sleep-wake disorders, of 
which insomnia is the most common. Other 
sleep-wake disorders include obstructive 
sleep apnea, parasomnias, narcolepsy, and 
restless leg syndrome. 
Sleep difficulties are linked to both physical 
and emotional problems. Sleep problems can 

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both contribute to or exacerbate mental 
health conditions and can be a symptom of 
other mental health conditions. 
About one-third of adults report insomnia 
symptoms and 6-10 percent meet the criteria 
for insomnia disorder.1 
Importance of Sleep 
Sleep is a basic human need and is critical to 
both physical and mental health. There are 
two types of sleep that generally occur in a 
pattern of three-to-five cycles per night: 
Rapid eye movement (REM) – when most 
dreaming occurs 
Non-REM – has three phases, including the 
deepest sleep 

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When you sleep is also important. Your 
body typically works on a 24-hour cycle 
(circadian rhythm) that helps you know 
when to sleep. 
Insomnia Disorder 
Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, 
involves problems getting to sleep or staying 
asleep. About one-third of adults report 
some insomnia symptoms, 10-15 percent 
report problems with functioning during the 
daytime and 6-10 percent have symptoms 
severe enough to meet criteria for insomnia 
disorder. 
Symptoms and Diagnosis 
To be diagnosed with insomnia disorder, the 
sleep difficulties must occur at least three 
nights a week for at least three months and 
cause significant distress or problems at 
work, school or other important areas of a 

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person’s daily functioning. Not all 
individuals with sleep disturbances are 
distressed or have problems functioning. 
To diagnose insomnia, a physician will rule 
out other sleep disorders (see Related 
Conditions below), medication side-effects, 
substance misuse, depression and other 
physical and mental illnesses. Some 
medications and medical conditions can 
affect sleep. 
Treatment and Self-help 
Sleep problems can often be improved with 
regular sleep habits. (See Sleep Hygiene 
section for tips.) If your sleep problems 
persist or if they interfere with how you feel 

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or function during the day, you should seek 
evaluation and treatment by a physician. 
Relaxation techniques, used before bedtime, 
can be helpful for insomnia. 
Melatonin supplements may be helpful for 
people with some types of insomnia. Long-
term safety has not been investigated. 
Mind and body approaches, such as 
mindfulness, meditation, yoga, massage 
therapy and acupuncture lack evidence to 
show their usefulness, but are generally 
considered safe. 
Herbs and dietary supplements have not 
been shown to be effective for insomnia. 
There are safety concerns about some, 
including L-tryptophan. 

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