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Sleep Disorders Center Conditioned Insomnia

Conditioned insomnia, also called "learned insomnia" or "psychophysiologic insomnia", is difficulty sleeping mainly due to worrying about sleep. The harder one tries to sleep, the harder it is to sleep. Often the patient feels sleepy, goes to bed, and once in bed feels alert and has difficulty falling asleep.

How conditioned insomnia develops
Perpetuating factors
(may increase over time, and tend to be in the patient's control)

Our response to an experience

• Anxiety (worrying) about sleep
• Poor sleep habits
• Use of hyponotics and/or alcohol
• Rewards - TV, family or social

Precipitating factors
(often diminish over time)

My be induced by specific situations

• Stressful event
• Illness
• Job change or stress

Predisposing factors
(usually remain constant)

Sets the stage for insomnia

• Personality - nervous, worrier
• Age - increases with age
• Genes - family history
• Biology - metabolism

How conditioned insomnia is treated

• Stimulus control
• Healthy sleep habits
• Use the bedroom only for sleep and sex.
• In some cases, restricting the amount of time in bed is helpful.
• Sleeping pills are not usually necessary, but may be helpful in certain cases.