Secondary Hypersomnias
Secondary hypersomnias, unlike primary hypersomnias, are not caused by issues within the brain but instead are secondary to other disorders, symptoms of other conditions, or a result of certain medications. This gives rise to various types of secondary hypersomnias. Several conditions that commonly exhibit hypersomnia as a secondary disorder include clinical depression, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. Another prevalent cause of secondary hypersomnia is sleep apnea, a condition characterized by shallow or interrupted breathing during sleep, which disrupts the normal sleep cycle.
Secondary Hypersomnia and Mood Disorders
Secondary hypersomnia can be linked to depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder. However, these cases differ from other instances of secondary hypersomnia in several ways. While excessive daytime sleepiness is often associated with inadequate sleep at night, this is not always the case for individuals with mood disorders. In fact, instead of feeling tired, many people with mood disorders experience a lack of interest or a general decrease in energy. This poses a challenge for doctors in diagnosing hypersomnia in patients with mood disorders, as there is a lack of tests capable of accurately identifying these symptoms.