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Related Concept Videos

Insomnia01:27

Insomnia

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines01:14

CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

CNS depressants include drugs from the category of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are valuable medications for managing anxiety disorders and insomnia. Barbiturates, once used to induce and maintain sleep, have been replaced mainly by benzodiazepines due to barbiturate's toxicity, tolerance, and overdose risks. They interact with GABAA receptors, leading to sedation at low doses and potentially coma and death at higher doses. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, possesses...
Narcolepsy01:07

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...

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Chronic insomnia.

David N Neubauer1

  • 1Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Ave, Box 151, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. neubauer@jhmi.edu

Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.)
|February 7, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review covers chronic insomnia evaluation and treatment strategies. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and FDA-approved medications offer effective, customized approaches for this common sleep disturbance.

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Area of Science:

  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disturbance, often chronic.
  • Sleep onset and maintenance difficulties are common in neurologic disorders.
  • Multiple contributing factors necessitate a comprehensive evaluation approach.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of current strategies for evaluating and treating chronic insomnia.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current evidence-based guidelines and FDA-approved treatments.
  • Discussion of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of insomnia medications.
  • Integration of psychological and behavioral techniques.

Main Results:

  • Several FDA-approved medications exist for insomnia treatment, including benzodiazepine receptor agonists, melatonin receptor agonists, and histamine receptor agonists.
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective non-pharmacological treatment for chronic insomnia.
  • Personalized therapeutic approaches can be developed based on medication properties and patient needs.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic insomnia is a widespread condition requiring thorough patient assessment.
  • Evidence-based guidelines recommend cognitive and behavioral strategies alongside pharmacotherapy for chronic insomnia management.
  • A multifaceted treatment strategy combining medication and therapy is supported.