title: Insomnia as an interaction between sleep-interfering and sleep-interpreting processes.
abstract: The present paper reviews theories and empirical research concerning the role of psychological processes in insomnia. It is argued that two kinds of psychological processes are involved in insomnia: sleep-interfering processes and sleep-interpreting processes. A theoretical model is sketched, where it is argued that psychological vulnerability factors may predispose the individual to (1) respond with sleep-interfering processes to stressful life events, and to (2) engage in dysfunctional sleep-interpreting processes. Examples of the first kind of variables are arousability, slow recuperation after stress, worrying, and emotional conflicts in relation to significant others; examples of the latter are sleep-related beliefs, attitudes, and perfectionistic standards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden. llh@psychology.su.se
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Lundh
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Broman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*