This is the last part of the article representing the classes of disorders in DSM. Starting from sleep disorders they are as follows -

m) Sleep disorder Sleep disorders are classified as follows


1) Dyssomnia I) Primary insomnia
II) Primary hypersomnia
III) Narcolepsy
IV) Breathing related sleep disorder
V) Circadian rhythm sleep disorder

2) Parasomnias I) Nightmare disorder
II) Sleep terror disorder
III) Sleep walking disorder

3) Sleep disorders related to another mental disorders
I) Insomnia related to axis-I or axis-II disorder
II) Hypersomnia related to axis-I or axis-II disorder

n) Impulse control disorders not elsewhere classified Disorders included in it are

1) Intermittent explosive disorder
2) Kleptomania
3) Pyromania
4) Pathological gambling
5) Trichotillomania

o) Adjustment disorder It has five subtypes

1) Adjustment disorder with anxiety
2) Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
3) Adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct
4) Adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct
5) Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood Adjustment disorder can also be 1) Acute (for 6 months or less)
1) Chronic (more than 6 months)

p) Personality disorders They are divided into three clusters.
1) Cluster A
I) Paranoid
II) Schizoid
III) Schizotypal

2) Cluster B I) Antisocial
II) Borderline
III) Histrionic
IV) Narcissistic

3) Cluster C I) Avoidant
II) Dependent
III) Obsessive compulsive


Personality disorder NOS is also included in this category.

q) Other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention This category includes

1) Medication induced movement disorder
2) Relational problem
3) Problems related to abuse or neglect
4) Bereavement
5) Occupational problem
6) Malingering
7) Phase of life problem

Some other disorders were listed in DSM IV for inclusion in the revised manual. Three optional axes were also listed with these.
With this part classification of psychiatric disorders concludes. Disorders mentioned in this section have their respective subclasses which are more important for the psychiatrists, not the physicians.

Insomnia is a difficult condition for anyone to deal with at the best of times, but there is a variation of insomnia called sporadic fatal insomnia. It's an extremely a rare condition which physically affects an individuals ability to sleep. It does this to such an extent that every known case has proven fatal.

Unlike the more common type of insomnia that you or I may suffer from, sporadic fatal insomnia is not caused by external influences such as stress, anxiety, diet or other difficulties. Rather, it is an internal condition caused by a deficient protein called prion.

The prion interferes with the person's ability to sleep by affecting a particular area of the brain called the thalamus, which directly controls and influences sleep. It's called sporadic fatal insomnia because it can occur spontaneously in an otherwise healthy individual.

It's interesting, if slightly worrying, that the same defective gene responsible for sporadic fatal insomnia is the same one responsible for BSE, or so called mad cow disease.

Symptoms of sporadic fatal insomnia will usually begin to exhibit themselves in people between the ages of forty and sixty, although it has been found in people as young as thirty. Initially, the sufferer begins to have difficulty with sleeping, which progresses into trouble controlling their movement. The condition worsens fairly rapidly and eventually ends in dementia, with an increasing loss of ability to distinguish between dreams and reality.

Ultimately, unable to cope without sleep and losing their hold on reality, the sufferer will die. This usually within one to three years. There is no known cure for sporadic fatal insomnia.

Fortunately, the condition is extremely rare. In addition, it is believed to be genetically transferred, although recent research into the similarity between sporadic fatal insomnia and BSE, which is able to be passed from one person to another, may subsequently prove that to be untrue.

It's unlikely that sporadic fatal insomnia will be mistaken for common insomnia. The symptoms, whilst possibly similar at first, soon show their differences. Having said that, it's speculated that cases of dementia may have been diagnosed incorrectly, supporting the theory that there have been more cases of sporadic fatal insomnia than have been reported.

Although women suffer more from loss of sleep, they are less likely than men to seek help, and are often not diagnosed and treated properly by the medical profession. Women are more likely to suffer depression as a result of the lack of sleep. Women's sleep problems affect their work, their sex lives, and their social lives negatively.

Women lose sleep because of their role in the family and the demands of today's 24/7 world. Some of those yawns can be blamed on the complexity of modern women's lives-they're workers, wives, mothers and caregivers to elderly parents-all of which add up to stress and anxiety that doesn't stop when the lights go out. For those mothers who work, three quarters of them always feel tired.

Another culprit behind women's sleep difficulties can be fluctuating hormone levels. With optimal levels of estrogen and progesterone in your system, the time it takes to fall asleep and the number of awakenings during the night decrease. But hormone fluctuations occur for many reasons, including monthly menstrual cycles, use of birth control pills, pregnancy, perimenopause (the two to eight years before and up to one year after menstrual periods end) and menopause.

The effects of estrogen on sleep are numerous and complicated. Estrogen tends to decrease sleep latency, decrease the number of awakenings after sleep occurs, and increase total sleep time. The number of arousals doubles during the luteal (low estrogen) phase of the menstrual cycle. Temperature regulation in the body is also influenced by estrogen; low levels are associated with increases in both peripheral and central temperature, resulting in the hot flashes characteristic of menopause.

The effects of progesterone on sleep are also marked but more straightforward. Progesterone peaks sharply during the mid-luteal phase of a normal menstrual cycle and then drops before menses. These changes are associated with increased arousals and other sleep difficulties.

Insomnia is a complex of symptoms consisting of difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing non-refreshing sleep that result in daytime consequences that significantly impact productivity and quality of life. Up to one third of Americans suffer from some form of insomnia with approximately 10% having chronic insomnia.

Long-term insomnia can cause a series of problems. According to studies, middle-aged women who sleep only five hours every night are more likely to suffer from heart disease than those who sleep eight hours. Insomnia will increase feelings of hunger, thereby affecting the metabolism and keeping women from staying fit. If women sleep less than six hours and it is accompanied by excessive dreams, especially nightmares, they can be sleepy, light-headed, scatter-brained and even get angry without any reason the next day.

Insomnia is also one of the most common complaints of patients with depression, and it may also be a factor in developing or sustaining depression. Clinically there is little doubt that major depression and insomnia are closely interlinked. Other effects of insomnia on women are that it can also speed up the rate your skin ages, and suggestions are that it can even possibly increase the risk of breast cancer. But unfortunately, many women do not yet realize that insomnia can negatively affect them in so many ways.

Sleep is perhaps the most fundamental cycle that the human body has, since it is when your mind processes the day's events, your body renews its immune system, and your mind and body are rejuvenated. Your sleep cycles are also something that your body is most particular about--your moods are only one of many things that are thrown off by an irregular sleep cycle.

However, even if we are aware of this fact, in today s society it s no wonder we can t sleep. Sleep equals doing nothing, and doing nothing is such a low priority that we are way out of practice. Sure, we want slumber, need it, even crave it. But because we can t work, buy things or communicate while we do it, hence we feel it has very little relevance to our lives.

But that is such the wrong way to think.

Sound sleep is far more than a good night's rest; it represents the benefits of health and a healthy lifestyle. After all, it's a third of your life; it MUST be important.

Despite the toll that sleeplessness takes on their lives, women refuse to slow down. Instead almost 80 percent said they cope with caffeine drinks. And while they don't take time off from work or cut back on home duties, they do sacrifice time with friends and family and stop eating a healthy diet.

You need to take command of your sleep time. Without your health you have nothing.

Even if your insomnia is stress-induced, you CAN beat it. You deserve to find restful sleep without side effects. It s not as difficult as you might think. All it takes is finding a way to restore your body s natural sleep cycle, you definitely don t need to take those dangerous and addictive pills. You just need to retrain your mind to re-enter a deep a restful sleep. When you have the facts, it s like the saying goes everthing s easy when you know how .
By: Beth Montana

Insomnia is a disorder where a person is unable to sleep for extended periods of time. Lack of sleep can be dangerous because the person who suffers from insomnia is exhausted all of the time which can lead to bad judgment calls and failure to being productive. Sleep allows the body to recover and refresh itself on a daily basis


Side Effects Of Insomnia

Although insomnia can strike anyone at anytime, a person who has a high-pressure job, or a lot of worry or stress is more likely to be stricken with it.

When your body gets enough rest, you are able to stay more focused on the tasks of the day. Lack of sleep can cause you to have slow or delayed reactions. This is blamed for millions of auto accidents each year.

There are also other affects that insomnia can cause other than lack of sleep. A person who suffers from insomnia also risks serious illness because the body s immune system can be affected. A healthy body requires that you sleep at least eight hours a night.

Studies Of Insomnia

Studies have indicated that a hormone called Melatonin, referred to as the insomnia hormone, is responsible for putting the body to sleep. This hormone is produced in the pineal gland located in the brain. When the body does not produce enough Melatonin, insomnia is the result. When the correct amount of Melatonin is produced, it acts as a natural relaxant in the body and has even been proven to reduce body temperature.

There is hope for those who suffer from insomnia. Medical breakthroughs happen every day. With the advances in medical science, Melatonin can now be produced synthetically.

Studies have shown that the body produces Melatonin at night or in the dark. When it is released into the body, tiredness and eventually sleep occurs.

Other studies have concluded that Melatonin is reduced, as we get older. What this means is that the elderly have more chance of suffering from insomnia than one of a younger age. Often times, a physician will prescribe an insomnia hormone in order for the person suffering to get the proper amount of sleep.

Understanding Insomnia

It is important to understand that the insomnia hormone cannot be thought of as a cure for insomnia it is only a treatment. It is crucial that you see your physician in order to rule out any underlying problems. Only he or she can determine if Melatonin is the right course of treatment for you.

Insomnia is a horrible disorder that can be devastating to those who suffer from it. With medical science making breakthroughs everyday, it is one disorder that can be eliminated. With proper medication, those who suffer from insomnia can lead healthy, restful lives.

Many herbs can be effectively and inexpensively used to ease the nerves and promote relaxation and sleep. Some people may not know though that the use of some herbs can result in side effects or that some herbs are less effective and safe than others. Here are some useful tips to ensure that you are using a safe insomnia herbal remedy.


Conduct Your Own Research

The internet, health practitioners and local support groups are perfect resources for your search for a safe insomnia herbal remedy. Take note of popular herbs used for insomnia herbal remedy products and research for the answer to specific questions like:

How exactly can this insomnia herbal remedy promote sleep and relaxation?
What are it effects on vital body functions?
Are there any negative side effects and are any of the side effects long term and potentially life threatening?
Are there people using the herb who have experienced positive results?
What do studies and experts say about this popular insomnia herbal remedy?
Are there warnings in the internet against this insomnia herbal remedy? Have there been controversial cases linked to the herb?
Does this herb have the least negative side effects?

Look for a Reputable Brand

Aside from getting yourself personally informed, you should also consider buying an insomnia herbal remedy from a reputable company who has been in the business for some time. A reputable insomnia herbal remedy brand will be able to provide you with valuable information about the remedy. They will not just tell you that their product can provide relief from insomnia. They will also tell you exactly how their product can promote positive results. You will easily find ingredient descriptions and ingredient effects in a good product site. You can simply cross check the information provided by looking for unbiased medical journals or studies in the internet. A reputable manufacturer or distributor will also provide you free access to additional information about insomnia and other sleep disorders to help you understand your condition better.

Don t Experiment with Herbs

Some sources may provide you with home remedies for insomnia. Some of these remedies may actually be safe to use and may even work. Your home remedy herbal instructions however should contain specific amount instructions. Not all herbs can be safely used in any experimental amount. Even herbs taken as instructed may still cause side effects. Hops, chamomile and lavender for example are herbs for insomnia that can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

Use Your Common Sense

Because herbs have not been extensively studied, common sense would tell us not to use herbs under specific conditions unless cleared by a physician for safe use. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, young children, people taking strong medications, people with allergies and people with serious ailments should refrain from taking any insomnia herbal remedy. An insomnia herbal remedy s properties could have negative side effects in people with special conditions.

Ask Your Doctor s Opinion

If you are already using a remedy or have switched from one remedy to another and you are still not experiencing any positive effects or have a worse condition, then you should immediately see your doctor. You could already be suffering from chronic insomnia that could lead to a more serious condition. You could also be suffering from a serious underlying condition that could be causing your insomnia.

By: Patricia Hammond
Get more information on pregnancy insomnia symptoms and other sleep disorder remedies at www.herbalsleepaid.info.

Everyone needs sleep because lack of sleep can affect our health and wellbeing. Some people spend enough time in bed, but their sleep is not refreshing. And while occasional restless nights are often normal, prolonged insomnia can interfere with daytime function, and may impair concentration, diminish memory, and increase the risk of substance abuse, motor vehicle accidents, headaches, and depression. In a 2002 survey, the National Sleep Foundation found that 58% of adults have trouble sleeping at least a few nights a week.

What is sleep?

Sleep is one of the bodyТs most mysterious processes. The most significant characteristic of sleep which differentiates it from the waking state is the interruption of perception. A sleeping person does not see or hear. Additionally, sleep is marked by decreased movement of the skeletal muscles, slowed-down metabolism, and complex and active brain wave patterns.

There are two major types of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep:

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. It comes and goes throughout the night, and makes up about one fifth of our sleep time. During REM sleep, our brain is very active, our muscles are very relaxed, our eyes move quickly from side to side and we dream.

Non-REM sleep. The brain is quiet, but the body may move around. Hormones are released into the bloodstream and our body repairs itself after the wear and tear of the day. There are 4 stages of non-REM sleep:

Pre-sleep - the muscles relax, the heart beats slower and body temperature falls.

Light sleep - we can still be woken easily without feeling confused.

Slow wave sleep - our blood pressure falls, we may talk in our sleep or sleep walk.

Deep "slow wave" sleep - we become very hard to wake. If we are woken, we feel confused.

We move between REM and non-REM sleep about five times throughout the night, dreaming more as we get toward the morning. During a normal night, we will also have short periods of waking. These last 1 or 2 minutes and happen every 2 hours or so. We aren't usually aware of them. We are more likely to remember them if we feel anxious or there is something else going on - noises outside, our partner snoring.

Sleep is an important factor in all our lives. Sleep helps the body restore and rejuvenate in many different ways. Sleep enables the brain to encode new information and store it properly. REM sleep activates the parts of the brain that control learning. The parts of the brain that control emotions, decision-making and social interactions slow down dramatically during sleep, allowing optimal performance when awake.

Sleep enables the immune system to function effectively. Without proper sleep, the immune system becomes weak and the body becomes more vulnerable to infection and disease. During sleep muscle tissue is rebuilt and restored.

Children need much more sleep than adults. Growth hormones are released during sleep, so sleep is vital to proper physical and mental development. Tired children are often cranky, fussy and become easily frustrated and difficult.

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a term used to describe several types of sleeplessness. With insomnia, you experience a significant lack of sleep on a regular or frequent basis. Insomnia usually takes one or more of the following forms:

Difficulty falling asleep - more common among young people.

Difficulty maintaining sleep (sleeping lightly and restlessly, waking often, lying awake in the middle of the night) - more common in people over 40. In younger people it may be associated with depression.

Waking early and being unable to get back to sleep - this is more common in older people and anyone worrying about something in particular.

Types of Insomnia
There are two broad categories:

Chronic insomnia - lasting for several weeks, months or even years.

Transient insomnia - lasting for a few nights or weeks only, usually connected to a stressful event.

Chronic insomnia

Chronic insomnia is long-term and may last a month, several months, or years. Chronic insomnia may be caused by either a medical problem, a psychiatric problem, a sleep disorder (sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, etc.), or poor sleep hygiene. Self help may solve the poor sleep habits, but professional help may be necessary for sleep disorders or for underlying medical or psychiatric problems.

Transient/Acute Insomnia

The most common type of insomnia is transient (acute) insomnia. Transient insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks and is often caused by an emotional or physical discomfort. Typical factors include stress, attempting to sleep in a new place, changes in time zones, changing bedtimes due to shift work, environmental disturbances such as noise, light and temperature.

Insomnia is also classified into primary and secondary insomnia.

Primary insomnia is insomnia that is not caused by other health problems. This is the most common type of insomnia.

Secondary insomnia is a symptom of another underlying condition that causes the insomnia. When you receive effective treatment for the underlying condition, the insomnia usually goes away.

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

The amount of sleep each person needs depends on many factors, including age. Some people find that they only need 5-6 hours of sleep, while others need 10-11 hours for optimal performance. The average adult functions best with 7-8 hours of sleep a night. However, it is important to consider how much sleep you need on an individual basis. The signs of inadequate sleep are low energy levels, drowsiness, irritability, and poor concentration.

Infants and Children. Infants require about 16 hours a day. From 6 months to about 3 years, childrenТs sleep requirement decreases to about 14 hours. Young children generally get their sleep from a combination of nighttime sleep and naps.

Teenagers. Teenagers need about 9 hours of sleep a night. Sleep is crucial for teenagers because it is while they are sleeping that their bodies release a hormone that is essential during their growth spurt.

Adults. For most adults, 7 to 8 hours a night appears to be the best amount of sleep, although the amount ranges from 5 hours to 10 hours of sleep each day depending on the individual.

Pregnant Women. Women in the first trimester of pregnancy, and sometimes throughout pregnancy, need significantly more sleep than usual.

People tend to sleep more lightly and for shorter time spans as they get older, although they generally need about the same amount of sleep as they needed in early adulthood. About half of all people over 65 have frequent sleeping problems, such as insomnia, and deep sleep stages in many elderly people often become very short or stop completely.
By: Yury Bayarski
Yury Bayarski is the author of OriginalDrugs.com - website which offers health patches and natural health products. Please follow this link if you would like to read about herbal insomnia remedy

Almost everyone alive has suffered from at least one sleepless night. Tossing, turning and feeling like rest will never come, insomnia is not easy to live with even for a night. When the condition becomes chronic, ways to cure insomnia will not doubt be needed. Allowing the condition to persist over time can lead to other concerns very quickly..

The road to finding the best way to truly cure insomnia for a person will likely be a very individualized route. Since this condition has a number of different causes that range from stress and anxiety to depression and medication use, it is often by isolating those problems that the real way to cure insomnia is found. Other things such as change of working habits, aging, pain and even some medical conditions can be the cause. Isolating the cause often leads to the cure.

There are three major ways to cure insomnia. The path to finding the cure can take a little time, which is something that people suffering likely won't want to hear. The methods are:

Self-help. Often the best way to cure insomnia is to figure out what is causing it in the first place. If it is stress at work, addressing the issue will often result in relief. If that doesn't cure insomnia, psychological assistance could be the ticket to cure insomnia. Also, if the cause is pain from another physical condition, seeking help for that can often cure insomnia.

Behavioral. If the cause is deemed to be a change in conditions, such as switching from working days to working nights, there are other measures that can be taken. Behavioral therapy, for example, can cure insomnia by helping a person learn new ways to change their internal time clocks.


Medications. Sleeping medications serve as the way to cure insomnia for many. These, however, really are not or should not be seen as a long-term way to cure insomnia. They can, however, help immensely while a person is seeking out the root cause for the condition. Once that is addressed, the cure for insomnia is generally found. Take care when using some of these medications as they can become addictive in some cases.

Finding the right way to cure insomnia will often hinge on determining the cause. This can be very easy in some cases and rather tricky in others. It is very important when insomnia persists over time to seek out a cause and cure.

When a person manages to cure insomnia, the entire outlook on life tends to change. While many people can go without sleep, or at least much of it, for days on end, many others cannot. The effects can impact every aspect of life.