Insomnia classification
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Classification
Insomnia may be classified according to the duration of insomnia or pattern of insomnia.
Duration of insomnia
Three types of insomnia exist: transient, acute, and chronic
- Transient insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks. Most people occasionally suffer from transient insomnia due to such causes as jet lag or short-term anxiety. If this form of insomnia continues to occur from time to time, the insomnia is classified as intermittent.
- Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks to six months.
- Chronic insomnia is regarded as the most serious; persists almost nightly for at least a month.
Patterns of Insomnia
The pattern of insomnia is often related to the etiology.[2]
- Initial insomnia - difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of the night, often associated with anxiety disorders.
- Middle insomnia - waking during the middle of the night, difficulty maintaining sleep. Often associated with pain syndromes or medical illness.
- Terminal (or late) insomnia - early morning waking. Characteristic of Clinical depression.