INSOMNIA AO2

Just to remind you – how do we explain insomnia?  Types  Initial, middle, terminal?  Causes:  Primary/Secondary?  Predisposing/precipitating and perpetuating factors?  Genetic vulnerability? (Spielman and Glovinsky)  Teenage shift in circadian rhythms (Kalb)  Risk factors:  Age?  Other disorders?  Personality?

How can we evaluate?  Remember, you need an absolute minimum of:  2 studies  1 methodological  1 IDA  1 RWA  It would be wise to gather at least 8 points, to enable you to have a range to pick from!!!  This will also ensure you are covered for any slightly weaker AO2

What could you include?  Is insomnia an effect of other problems or is it the cause? (Ohayon and Roth, 2003)  Twin studies provide evidence for genetic vulnerability (Watson et al, 2006)  Biological factors - Hyperarousal in insomniacs (Bonnet and Arand, 1995)  IDA – above studies provide evidence for the biological approach – insomnia is another example of behaviour being all down to our genes!!

What could you include?  Predisposing factors alone not enough to explain chronic primary insomnia:  Diathesis stress model – environmental stressors also needed.  Perpetuating factors e.g. being tense when going to bed because of insomnia make it worse (Espie, 2002)  Roberts et al (2008) 25% teenagers suffer insomnia – supports the circadian shift explanation

What could you include?  Difficulty in studying insomnia – such a complex problem with lots of factors/causes – hard to reach firm conclusions  RWA – knowing about the self-fulfilling prophecy of sleep problems has allowed psychologists to develop attribution therapy (Storms and Nisbett)

Now to the essay!!!  Using your notes from yesterday, your work booklets and your hand-outs, you should draft out an essay for the following question:  Discuss explanations of insomnia (8 + 16)