Adjustment Sleep Disorder

Adjustment sleep disorder (ASD) is the most common sleep disturbance connected with stress, anxiety, any environmental change, or conflict, occurring in 35 percent of Americans at some time in their lives.

Adjustment sleep disorder causes emotional arousal thereby troubling sleep. The elderly, who sleep more lightly, are more susceptible to the stress of illness and the side effects of medications with central nervous system activity.

Insomnia secondary to illness or hospitalization is often taken for granted, and efforts to medicate the underlying disease frequently result in further sleep disturbance.

The sleep disturbance usually resolves as adaptation to the stressor occurs. Adjustment may be delayed when the stressor is severe.

Sleep disturbances are associated with increased anxiety; social dysfunction and daytime sleepiness because of night sleep deprivation. Adjustment sleep disorder is an example of the effect of emotional stress on sleep, because it is triggered by emotional shock or panic.

Adjustment Sleep Disorder Symptoms

The symptoms of adjustment sleep disorder are mimic depression, anxiety, or sleep disorder; however the disturbance disorder is short-term and usually with the help of counseling or mild short-term medication, it can be treated.

The person may have a more permanent problem, such as a genuine mood or sleep disorder, if the problem persists more than six months after removal of the stressor. Even though Adjustment sleep disorder is more common in adult women then men, it may occur at any age. No known genetic predispositions exist.

Adjustment sleep disorder is usually a benign short-lived problem, but if the person with Adjustment sleep disorder starts self-treatment with alcohol or sedatives, serious complications might appear. Adjustment sleep disorder might also trigger depression that would otherwise be hidden.

Insomnia secondary to symptoms of medical illness is best managed by actively treating the original medical disorder. It should be noted, however, that optimum management of the medical illness might indeed worsen the sleep disturbance.

Analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents should be administered to their maximum therapeutic benefit, if pain predominates. When a hypnotic is needed, low doses are frequently sufficient.

Adjustment Sleep Disorder Diagnosis

To be diagnosed as having adjustment sleep disorder, the sleep disturbance clearly deviates from the person's normal sleeping patterns. Symptoms must be clearly associated with the individual stressor and must stop when the stressor is removed.

Adjustment Sleep Disorder Treatment

If a trigger can be removed, the Adjustment Sleep Disorder treatment is usually not necessary. Sleep is usually restored soon, unless negative relationship with a bedroom is strong.

Education about behavior modification methods to decrease pre-sleep anxiety and, in some cases, short-term it is sufficient to use mild sleeping pills to break the cycle.

Adjustment sleep disorder treatment may be necessary in persons with limited emotional resources or social support. Hypnotic medication is best used only as short-term adjunctive therapy to break the cycle of sleeplessness. Behavioral and supportive treatment is preferred.