Sleep Disorders (Insomnia): Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Respiratory System (J00-J99)

  • Allergic rhinitis (allergic rhinitis; hay fever).
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS; simultaneous inflammation of the nasal mucosa (“rhinitis”) and the mucosa of the paranasal sinuses (“sinusitis“)).

Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).

  • Andropause (male menopause)
  • Hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism)
  • Climacteric (menopause in women; eg, hot flashes).

Factors affecting health status and leading to health care utilization (Z00-Z99).

  • Burnout syndrome

Cardiovascular system (I00-I99)

  • Apoplexy (stroke)
  • Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency)

Mouth, esophagus (esophagus), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (synonyms: GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); gastroesophageal reflux disease (reflux disease); gastroesophageal reflux; reflux esophagitis; reflux disease; reflux esophagitis; peptic esophagitis) – inflammatory disease of the esophagus (esophagitis) caused by the pathological reflux of acidic gastric juice and other gastric contents [75% of cases no typical symptoms! Irritation of the throat, hoarseness, cough, “asthma”]

Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).

Neoplasms – tumor diseases (C00-D48).

  • Brain tumors

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)

  • Alcohol dependence
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder)
  • Huntington’s disease (synonyms: Huntington’s chorea or Huntington’s disease; older name: St. Vitus’ dance) – genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance characterized by involuntary, uncoordinated movements accompanied by flaccid muscle tone.
  • Chronic pain
  • Dementia
  • Depression
  • Drug addiction
  • Dystonia – umbrella term for neurological disorders in which the mobility of certain regions of the body is disturbed, without this disturbance can be influenced at will.
  • Epilepsy – neurological disease that leads to seizures.
  • Fatal familial insomnia (lethal familial insomnia) – genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance; spongiform encephalopathy (TSE); characterized by refractory insomnia with dreams and hallucinations; motor disturbances and possibly dementia occurring late in the course.
  • Hereditary ataxia – autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant inherited (ADCA = autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias) disorders of movement (ataxias); symptoms include increasing gait unsteadiness, fine motor dysfunction, slurred speech, and eye movement disorders
  • Idiopathic insomnia – sleep disturbance with no apparent cause.
  • Mania (pathological high spirits)
  • Meningitis (meningitis)
  • Meningoencephalitis – inflammation of the meninges and brain.
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) – neurological disease that causes multiple damages to the central nervous system due to a chronic inflammatory response.
  • Narcolepsy – disease that usually begins in childhood and leads to short sleep seizures.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) – characterized by obstruction or complete closure of the upper airway during sleep; most common form of sleep apnea.
  • Parasomnia (nightmares, Pavor nocturnus and sleepwalking/somnabulism).
  • Parkinson’s syndrome – neurological disease (extrapyramidal syndrome resulting from degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra).
  • Polyneuropathies – diseases of the peripheral nervous system affecting multiple nerves.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Psychosis
  • Psychophysiological insomnia – insomnia due to emotional tension.
  • Restless legs syndrome (restless legs syndrome).
  • Schizophrenia – psychiatric disorder that causes changes in thoughts, perception and behavior.
  • Central sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) – characterized by repeated respiratory arrests due to lack of respiratory muscle activation (episodic inhibition of respiratory drive).

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

  • Nocturia (nocturnal urination).
  • Pruritus (itching)
  • Pain, unspecified (e.g., in chronic diseases).

Genitourinary system (kidneys, urinary tract – reproductive organs) (N00-N99).

Injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98).

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)

  • Alcohol dependence
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder)
  • Huntington’s disease – genetic disorder that causes, among other things, sweeping movements of the extremities.
  • Chronic pain
  • Dementia
  • Depression
  • Drug addiction
  • Dystonia – umbrella term for neurological disorders in which the mobility of certain regions of the body is disturbed, without this disturbance can be influenced at will.
  • Epilepsy – neurological disease that leads to seizures.
  • Fatal familial insomnia – genetic disorder leading to progressive insomnia.
  • Hereditary ataxia – movement disorders due to genetic condition (symptoms: increasing gait unsteadiness, fine motor disturbance, slurred speech and eye movement disorders).
  • Idiopathic insomnia – sleep disorder with no apparent cause.
  • Mania (pathological high spirits)
  • Meningitis (meningitis)
  • Meningoencephalitis – combined inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and meninges (meningitis).
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) – neurological disease that leads to multiple damage to the central nervous system due to a chronic inflammatory response.
  • Narcolepsy – disease that usually begins in childhood and leads to short sleep seizures.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) – characterized by obstruction or complete closure of the upper airway during sleep; most common form of sleep apnea.
  • Parasomnia (nightmares, Pavor nocturnus and sleepwalking/somnabulism).
  • Parkinson’s syndrome – neurological disease (extrapyramidal syndrome resulting from degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra).
  • Psychosis
  • Psychophysiological insomnia – insomnia due to emotional tension.
  • Restless legs syndrome (syndrome of restless legs)/syndrome of nocturnal periodic leg movements.
  • Schizophrenia – psychiatric disorder that causes changes in thoughts, perception, and behavior.
  • Sleep apnea syndrome – repeated cessations of breathing during sleep.
  • Central sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) – characterized by repeated respiratory arrests due to lack of activation of respiratory muscles (episodic inhibition of respiratory drive).

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

Genitourinary system (kidneys, urinary tract – reproductive organs) (N00-N99).

Injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98).

Medication

  • See “Causes” under medications