Sleeping Disorder - Literature review Example

Sleeping Disorder Sleeping disorder is a form of medical disorder affecting mental, physical as well as emotional functioning. It is associated with inappropriate sleeping patterns as for instance, failure to falling or continuing with the sleep, feeling of sleepiness at inappropriate times, excessive sleep period, projection of abnormal behavior during sleeps and many more. Moreover, multiple negative impacts on the normal functioning of a person can also be seen as a result of this disorder, which affect their social association and behavior to a large extent (Helpguide.org, n.d.). The issue of sleep disorder has been affecting individuals for a long time period and in this regard, the appropriately identified causes for this disorder includes increasing workload along with multiple other external or internal factors such as depression, stress, anxiety and social isolation among others. Multiple therapies, theories and medication techniques are developed with the aim of diagnosing and minimizing the impact of this disorder on the life as well as the social surrounding of an individual having the problem of sleep disorder. Introduction A sleep disorder is described as a medical disorder associated with sleep pattern. There are different forms of sleep disorder which include insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea and cataplexy. The issues relate to sleep disorder have been in existence within multiple cultures and societies since a long period of time. Moreover, due to the lack of appropriate treatment and awareness, sleeping disorder during the middle age period often considered as some sort of demonic possession for the people. It gradually resulted in deteriorating the health conditions of the victimized individuals. Multiple instances occurred when individuals suffering from the disorder were even identified to be abolished from the society and were forced to live a life of misery and insult (Unite for Sight, n.d.). However, by the end of the 1840s, multiple mental health care facilities were established within all the 32 states of the United States of America (US), where patients suffering from sleeping disorder and other sorts of mental illness were treated under the supervision of effective and appropriate medical staffs. The medical facilities were subjected to multiple criticisms related to the violation of the human rights (Unite for Sight, n.d.). In this regard, the discussion provides a brief understanding about sleep disorder and its history. The later part of the discussion comprises contents regarding the types of psychological theories that have been established for diagnosing and treating the disorder. Factors such as the age, impact of the family and the sociological perception regarding the disorder have been mentioned to a better knowledge about it. Literature Review Sleep disorder is a common medical issue associated with abnormal sleeping patterns (Haves et al., 1996). According to Haves et al. (1996), sleep disorder is identified to interfere with emotional, physical and mental functioning. Sleeping disorder is caused due to different factors that include depression and stress among others. In a similar context, Panossian & Avidan (2009) noted that sleep disorders have been major cause of adverse effect on psychiatric conditions and exacerbate medical conditions. Additionally, sleep disorder is also responsible for impaired functioning owing to augmented anxiety and depression among others. Sleeping disorder is also identified to be accountable for motor vehicle accidents, endocrine disorders and ineffective job performances (Panossian & Avidan, 2009). Multiple theories have been postulated for the effective diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. The applicability of the ‘Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT)’ is effective to diagnose as well as treat sleep disorders. CBT is effective due to the fact that sleep related disorders often results in giving rise to multiple cognitive imbalance which includes factors such as behavioral disorders, random mood fluctuation, anxiety, negative personality projection and many more (Haves et al., 1996; Helpguide.org, n.d.). Additionally, Shedler (2009) noted that the theory of ‘Psychodynamic Therapy (PT)’ also holds an appropriate spot in the areas of diagnosing and treating the sleep related disorders. The PT theory has been significantly used in evaluating the factors and the causes that might result in multiple psychological post effects such as sleep disorder and other forms of mental disorientations. Similarly, Dryden & Branch (2008) discussed about the theory of ‘Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy’ (REBT) and how it has been effective in terms of minimizing the issues related to emotions and mental behavior in an individual that may be the result of sleeping disorder’ side effects (Shedler, 2009). The article published by National Center for Biotechnology Information (2004) signified that sleep disorder is based on differentfactors such as age, gender and diagnostic criteria. In this regard, age factor is recognized to play a significant role in the evaluation process. Multiple reports have projected that the old age people are highly affected by the sleep related disorders in comparison to that of the middle age or young age individuals (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2004). In a similar perspective, the findings of the article published by U.S. Department of Health & Human Service (n.d.) implied that the inappropriate behavioral attitude of old age people regarding sleep disorder gradually decreases with time owing to changing sleeping habits. The diagnostic criteria mostly depend on the type of sleep disorder possessed by an individual. As for the age factor is concerned, the disorder has been found to be more apparently in women as compared to man (U.S. Department of Health & Human Service, n.d.). According to Robinson et al., (2008), the negative impact of sleep related disorders on the family members of individuals are drastic. Individuals suffering from sleeping disorder are often involved in arguments with family members resulting in adversely affecting family bondage. They often fail to accept their lacking points and go for the related medical treatments, which in turn deteriorated the situation to much higher level (Robinson et al., 2008). The article of National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum (2010) signified that individuals suffering from sleeping disorders often remain frustrated and unfocussed. As a result of being frustrated, they face a lot of difficulty in terms of adjusting with the norms and the social hardships. Projection of rude behavior becomes a common attribute for people suffering from sleep disorder. In this context, rude behavior of people arising for sleep disorder might adversely affect the physical as well as mental health largely with time. Subsequently, their behaviors lead towards the destabilizing of the social stigma and advocacy related aspects. In this context, individuals suffering sleeping disorder issues are identified to be ignored by society, which might ultimately lead to social isolation. Moreover, with time and ineffective treatment, these individuals lose their cognitive capabilities and become incapable in undertaking effective decisions (National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum, 2010). Conclusion From the above discussion, it can be identified that the concept of sleeping disorder along with its side effects has an immense impact on the normal mental and physical functionality of an individual. Individuals suffering from sleeping disorders are required to be offered with appropriate medical consent in order to improve the physical as well as the mental wellbeing of every single individual. Sleeping disorder is caused owing to stress and depression and in this regard, adequate measures are required to adopt with the aim of reviving from sleep disorder issue. Behavioral and cognitive checkup should be carried out so as to keep record of the mental conditions along with cognitive abilities of individuals on a periodic basis to mitigate the issues of sleep disorder as well as its side effects. In addition, different sleep disorder theories are required to be adopted for diagnosis as well as treatment of sleep disorder issue effectively. References Dryden, W., & Branch, R. (2008). The fundamentals of rational emotive behaviour therapy. A Training Handbook, 1-244. Haves, S. C., Wilson, K. G., Strosahl, K., Gifford, E. V., & Follette, V. M. (1996). Experiential avoidance and behavioural disorders: a functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64 (6), 1152-1168. Helpguide.org. (n.d.). Sleep disorders and sleeping problems. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_disorders.htm National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2004). Age-related sleep change: Gender and estrogen effects on the subjective-objective sleep quality relationships of healthy, noncomplaining older men and women. . Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15172206 National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum. (2010). Issue: Stigma, Discrimination and Mental Illness in Australia. NMHCCF Advocacy Brief, 1-3. Panossian, L. A., & Avidan, A. Y. (2009). Review of sleep disorder. Medical Clinics of North America, 93, 407-425. Robinson, E., Rodgers, B., & Butterworth, P. (2008). Family relationships and mental illness impacts and service responses. Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse, 1-19. Shedler, J. (2009). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychological Association, 1-25. Unite for Sight. (n.d.). Module 2: a brief history of mental illness and the U.S. mental health care system. Retrieved from http://www.uniteforsight.org/mental-health/module2 U.S. Department of Health & Human Service. (n.d.). Melatonin for treatment of sleep disorders. Retrieved from http://archive.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/melatsum.htm Read More