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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Article
Sleep Disorders in Older Adults and Elderly Following the Catastrophic Stressful Life Events
Author(s)
Habib A. Rabbani
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DOI:10.17265/2328-7136/2018.05.003
Affiliation(s)
Department of Psychology, Education and Human Sciences, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
ABSTRACT
In this paper we will
discuss on sleep disorders in older adults and aged people following the
catastrophes and stressful life events, and then note very shortly some
treatments. Sleep disorders, accompanied with headache, have been known
throughout the history of humanity and traditional medicine. In our time,
diverse psychosocial and environmental factors such as wars also some
psycho-socio-political events, acts of terrorism and others have shocked the
world with numerous material, human, damages and victims. Many of these
catastrophic acts and stressful life events, with their pathological effects,
can bring consequently anxiety and depression. Sleep disorders and insomnia
resulting from anxiety and depression, are very common, underdiagnosed, and
become a significant source of major pain complaints in older adults and
geriatric population. Some modifications in sleep patterns, during normal
ageing process, as well as in retired people, may not be considered a part of
pathological process of ageing; however, some factors like psychosomatical
problems, death of spouse or loss of a child or other dear member family etc.
can be related to pathological processes, and produce disturbances in circadian
rhythm and consequently lead to sleep disorder. Based on his teaching
experiences and clinical observations at Mental Health Centres, as well as
theoretical studies (particularly during these three last decades) the author
presents the results of his clinical researches. Our studies and lectures in
University Hospitals: (Ste Anne, Lariboisière and La Salpêtrière) have enriched
this research. The experiences and researches have shown that anxiety and depression exert
pathological effects, not only on the cognitive system as noted elsewhere and
harmful influences on the cardiovascular system, but have also pathological
effects on the pineal gland and its “melatonin” hormone secretion which is
considered as stimulator system (pace-maker-like) to regulate the rhythm of
wake-sleep. Major depression, anxiety and trauma, resulting of catastrophic
stressful life event, such as wars, acts of terrorism or others, when
accumulating and occurring together, can perturb not only the circadian rhythm
system, but in some extreme situations (such as inability to cope with stress
or suffering, facing economic crisis and failure etc.) in some cases as noted
elsewhere, they can also engender behaviour and personality disorders and
finally lead to suicide. Concerning current treatments, the efficacy of
melatonin to improve the quality of sleep is well established however the
author would propose if possible, to maximize the dosage.
KEYWORDS
Sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, melatonin, pineal gland, treatments.
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