Psychophysiologic Insomnia is a disorder of somatized tension and learned sleep-preventing associations that results in a complaint of insomnia and associated decreased functioning during wakefulness.

Psychophysiologic insomnia is an objectively verifiable insomnia that develops as a consequence of two mutually reinforcing factors: (a) somatized tension and (b) learned sleep-preventing associations.

Individuals who have psychophysiologic insomnia typically react to stress with somatized tension and agitation. The meaning of stressful events (other than insomnia) is typically denied and repressed but manifests itself as increased physiologic arousal.

Patients with externally conditioned arousal often report that they sleep better away from their own bedroom and away from their usual routines.

Psychophysiologic insomnia persists long after the precipitating factors have been removed.

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