---
id: "kb-2026-00463"
title: "Sleep Disorders"
schema_type: "TechArticle"
category: "health"
language: "en"
confidence: "high"
last_verified: "2026-05-22"
created_date: "2026-05-22"
generation_method: "ai_assisted"
ai_models: ["claude-opus"]
derived_from_human_seed: true
conflict_of_interest: "none_declared"
is_live_document: false
data_period: "static"

atomic_facts:
  - id: "fact-health-01"
    statement: "Restless Legs Syndrome : uncomfortable sensation + urge to move legs"
    source_title: "International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd Ed)"
    source_url: "https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/international-classification-sleep-disorders/"
    confidence: "medium"
  - id: "fact-health-001"
    statement: "Sleep disorders affect millions. Insomnia: difficulty falling/staying asleep (most common). Sleep apnea: breathing repeatedly stops during sleep — CPAP treatment. Narcolepsy: excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): uncomfortable sensation + urge to move legs. Parasomnias: sleepwalking, night terrors."
    source_title: "International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd Ed)"
    source_url: "https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/international-classification-sleep-disorders/"
    confidence: "medium"
  - id: "fact-health-002"
    statement: "Insomnia: CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy) is first-line treatment — more effective than sleeping pills long-term."
    source_title: "International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd Ed)"
    source_url: "https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/international-classification-sleep-disorders/"
    confidence: "medium"
  - id: "fact-health-003"
    statement: "Sleep apnea: affects 10-30% of adults, mostly undiagnosed."
    source_title: "International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd Ed)"
    source_url: "https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/international-classification-sleep-disorders/"
    confidence: "medium"

completeness: 0.88

known_gaps:
  - "Statistics and data cited are from 2017 and earlier; more recent data may have become available since publication"
  - "This field is under active research and rapid development; some conclusions may evolve with new evidence or technological advances"
  - "Certain sub-topics are covered at a general level; specialized edge cases and nuanced applications may not be fully addressed"

disputed_statements:
  - statement: "The existence and significance of 'social jetlag' versus genetic chronotype determination is debated in sleep science, with implications for school and work start times"

primary_sources:
  - title: "International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd Ed)"
    type: "standard"
    year: 2014
    url: "https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/international-classification-sleep-disorders/"
    institution: "AASM"

secondary_sources:
  - title: "Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams"
    type: "book"
    year: 2017
    url: "https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Why-We-Sleep/Matthew-Walker/9781501144325"
    institution: "Matthew Walker, Scribner"
  - title: "WHO Guidelines on Health and Well-Being"
    type: "official_report"
    year: 2024
    url: "https://www.who.int/publications/"
    institution: "World Health Organization"

---



## TL;DR

Sleep disorders affect millions. Insomnia: difficulty falling/staying asleep (most common). Sleep apnea: breathing repeatedly stops during sleep — CPAP treatment. Narcolepsy: excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): uncomfortable sensation + urge to move legs. Parasomnias: sleepwalking, night terrors.

## Core Explanation

Insomnia: CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy) is first-line treatment — more effective than sleeping pills long-term. Sleep apnea: affects 10-30% of adults, mostly undiagnosed. Narcolepsy: caused by loss of hypocretin/orexin neurons — autoimmune. Parasomnias: occur during non-REM (sleepwalking) or REM (nightmares). Circadian rhythm disorders: shift work, jet lag, delayed sleep phase.

## Further Reading

- [International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd Ed)](https://aasm.org/clinical-resources/international-classification-sleep-disorders/)

## Related Articles

- [Mental Health: Disorders, Treatments, and Neurobiology](../mental-health-fundamentals.md)
- [Sleep Hygiene](../sleep-hygiene.md)
- [Sleep Science and Circadian Rhythms](../sleep-science-and-circadian-rhythms.md)