Insomnia 2

Secondary Insomnia

•          More common than primary insomnia.

•          Occurs when insomnia is caused by a psychiatric disorder (most often depression) or a medical disorder (most often chronic pain

•          Underlying disorder needs to be treated appropriately. E.G. many people sleep much better after taking anti-depressants even though these have no effect on sleep patterns of people who are not depressed.

Causes of secondary insomnia

•          Hormonal changes in women, e.g. premenstrual syndrome, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.

•          Decreased melatonin production: levels of melatonin, decrease as a person ages. By age 60, the body produces very little melatonin.

•          Medical conditions: e.g. allergies, arthritis, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease.

Psychiatric conditions: secondary insomnia is a common symptom of depression. It is also associated with anxiety disorders, PTSD and dementia.

•          Overuse of stimulants – caffeine, alcohol, nicotine

•          Parasomnias – events that disrupt sleep but don’t cause daytime sleepiness, e.g. Sleep apnoea, restless leg syndrome

Other factors

•          Genetics: Watson et al 2006, genetic vulnerability makes it more likely a person will develop insomnia if they experience any of the pre-disposing things.

•          Personality: high levels of neuroticism increases vulnerability as linked to increased arousal & anxiety (Heath et al 1998)

•          Gender: women diagnosed more with both primary & secondary - ? Have higher levels of neuroticism & anxiety, ? Seek help…