Short-Term Insomnia

Excerpt

Short-term insomnia refers to dissatisfaction with the quantity or quality of sleep, characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or an inability to return to sleep despite having adequate opportunity. This condition typically lasts from a few days to several weeks and is associated with distress and daytime impairments, including fatigue, sleepiness, reduced attention and concentration, and mood disturbances. These symptoms are not attributable to any underlying medical condition, substance use, or medication.

Notably, before the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edn.; Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), insomnia was classified into several subtypes, including primary and secondary insomnia. The DSM-5-TR aimed to simplify the classification of sleep-wake disorders, in contrast to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd edn. (ICSD-3), which includes numerous diagnostic subtypes and is primarily used by sleep specialists. Previously recognized subtypes, such as paradoxical insomnia, idiopathic insomnia, psychophysiological insomnia, and inadequate sleep hygiene, are now consolidated under the broader category of insomnia disorder.