Sleep–Wake Disorders
Sleep–Wake Disorders in ICD-11 are defined by persistent disturbances in sleep quantity, quality, timing, or regulation that cause clinically significant distress or functional impairment.
Importantly, ICD-11 classifies sleep–wake disorders in a separate chapter to reduce the artificial separation between “mental” and “physical” conditions. Sleep disturbance may occur as:
• A primary disorder (e.g., Insomnia Disorder)
• Secondary to another mental disorder (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder)
• Associated with medical or neurological conditions
Accurate diagnosis requires evaluating:
• Duration and persistence
• Adequate opportunity for sleep
• Daytime impairment
• Differential diagnosis
Sleep is a regulatory system — not just a behaviour.
Understanding classification improves assessment.
Assessment improves intervention.
Continuing the ICD-11 Sleep–Wake Series:
Next — Insomnia
