Doctors Answers (2)
Richard J. Schumann Jr., MD
Answered on: 2/2/2012 2
Idiopathic Primary Insomnia previously called child onset insomnia is a lifelong inability to obtain adequate sleep due to a constant hyper-aroused state for 24 hours due to an imbalance within the neurologic sleep/wake system.
J. Douglas Hudson, MD, DABSM
Answered on:
The cause for primary insomnia is not known, but likely involves impairment of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, a small group of cells located in the hypothalamus of the brain.
Secondary insomnia, on the other hand, may be “secondary” to medications or various other disorders including chronic pain, cancer, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric problems or other sleep disorders.
