The condition affects the brain and its cognitive function. The condition can be either chronic or acute. wikit:Paradoxically, sleep deprivation can be used to treat certain disorders, such as clinical depression. Sleep deprivation has also been used as a form of torture. Multiple factors can cause or contribute to sleep deprivation including poor sleep hygiene, lifestyle choices, work obligations, sleep disorders, and other medical conditions. Sleep deficiency may be caused by other sleep disorders or medical conditions. For example, sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that induces dozens of nightly awakenings, may hinder both sleep duration and quality. Other medical or mental health problems, such as pain or general anxiety disorder, can interfere with the quality and quantity of sleep.[2]
Generally, sleep deprivation may result in:[3][4][5]
Sleep deprivation and sleep insufficiency may be categorised in different ways depending on a person’s circumstances.
Acute sleep deprivation refers to a short period, usually a few days or less, when a person has a significant reduction in their sleep time.
Chronic sleep deprivation, also known as insufficient sleep syndrome, is defined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as curtailed sleep that persists for three months or longer.
Chronic sleep deficiency or insufficient sleep can describe ongoing sleep deprivation as well as poor sleep that occurs because of sleep fragmentation or other disruptions.
↑ 1.01.1"How Much Sleep Do I Need?". CDC.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 14 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Last Reviewed: September 14, 2022. Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health.