Definition:
Hypersomnia is characterized by excessive sleepiness that is not relieved with sleep. Individuals with hypersomnia may sleep greater than 10 hours per day, may sleep very deeply and the sleep is not restorative. They may be tired during the day and feel the need to take frequent naps. Hypersomnia may be the result of a disorder called primary hypersomnia or may be caused by a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions such as certain types of depression, or by certain drugs.
According to the DSM-IV-TR, primary hypersomnia consists of the follow criteria:
- The predominant complaint is excessive sleepiness for at least 1 month (or less if recurrent) as evidenced by either prolonged sleep episodes or daytime sleep episodes that occur almost daily.
- The excessive sleepiness causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
- The excessive sleepiness is not better accounted for by another disorder or by an inadequate amount of sleep.
- The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.
Source:
American Psychiatric Association. "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., text revision" 2000 Washington, DC: Author.
