46 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 9 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
General News    H4'ed 2/6/12

What is Insomnia? The Culprit May Be Hyper-Arousal.

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   7 comments
New evidenced based medicine is perhaps closing in on an answer to the age-old question of what is insomnia, what may the source of it's causes and new non-drug approaches in treating it effectively.

In a recent study by researchers Barbara Hammer, PhD, Agatha P. Colbert, MD and others, entitled: "A Pilot Study of Z-Score Sensorimotor & Individualized Neurofeedback", it was found that hyper-arousal within the sensory motor cortex may hold clues to insomnia as being less of a psychological condition and more of the central nervous system's equivalent of an on-going neurological power surge.

Some troubling statistics written into the study include: "Beyond the individual burden resulting from insomnia, the burden on society is huge, in terms of direct treatment costs, indirect costs, workplace productivity, quality of life, and personal relationships. The additional cost for health care services sought by people with insomnia is estimated to be $3-$14 billion annually. The indirect costs to the economy in terms of lost productivity and higher accident rates is estimated at $80 billion annually."

Current treatments widely available include sedative hypnotics like Ambien and Lunesta, and, more recently an anti-psychotic marketed under the brand name Seroquel. None of these medications address the bio-electrical aspects thought to be involved in insomnia.

The researchers site another study that: "A recent literature review of Cortoos, et al, (5) regarding use of the latest technology in neuroimaging and neurofeedback --suggests that a state of hyperarousal with a biological basis is the underlying cause of insomnia". and a focus on cortical or central nervous system (CNS) arousal should be pursued."

Sadly, due to the pharmaceutical lobby and market forces, much of this research is simply ignored and never sees the light of day within mainstream media. A recent ABC World News report with Diane Sawyer showcased research using a form of sleep deprivation as a means to treat sleep deprivation! The interviewee, Michael Perlis, PhD is quoted a saying: "It's [sleep dep-therapy] a lot like water-boarding, but an exciting idea". One can imagine the million or so viewers asking themselves, "Wait. What? Am I dreaming this?

It seems a very fair question to ask.

 

Rate It | View Ratings

David Mayen Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

David A. Mayen serves as founder and CEO of the Sleep Recovery Centers. He is an EEG Spectum Intl. Graduate and holds certifications in advanced neurofeedback,neuro-anatomy and neurophysiology, psycho-pharmacology as well as alpha theta training (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Quitting Ambien: Study Shows High Cancer Risk.

Using Medical Marijuana for Insomnia: Maybe Not the Best Choice.

Fisher Wallace vs. Neurofeedback for Insomnia.

Chronic Sleep Problems: Why Pilot Insomnia Leads to Psychosis.

Insomnia Treatment: A New Approach Without Drugs.

Ambien Use Amongst Pro Athletes. Dara Torres Breaks the Silence.

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend