sleep maintenance insomnia
Difficulty staying asleep characterized by frequent awakenings or early morning awakening with inability to return to sleep.
Full Definition
Sleep maintenance insomnia is a type of insomnia characterized by the inability to maintain continuous sleep throughout the night, despite having no difficulty falling asleep initially. Patients experience frequent awakenings, prolonged periods of wakefulness during the night, and/or early morning awakening with inability to return to sleep. This condition results in poor sleep quality and daytime consequences despite adequate opportunity for sleep. Sleep maintenance insomnia can be primary or secondary to medical, psychiatric, or environmental factors, and often requires different treatment approaches compared to sleep onset insomnia.
Usage
Usage note: Specify type of insomnia when documenting; avoid generic 'insomnia' when maintenance issues are primary.
In Context
- "The patient's sleep maintenance insomnia resulted in multiple awakenings after 3 AM with difficulty returning to sleep." — Insomnia evaluation
- "Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia was recommended to address the sleep maintenance difficulties." — Treatment recommendation