Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

What type of sleep disorder is characterized by chronic fatigue and disturbing dreams, common in those with alcohol abuse history?

1. Insomnia

2. Night terrors

3. Alcohol-induced sleep disorder

4. Narcolepsy

The correct answer is: Alcohol-induced sleep disorder

The condition characterized by chronic fatigue and disturbing dreams, particularly prevalent among individuals with a history of alcohol abuse, aligns precisely with alcohol-induced sleep disorder. This disorder emerges in the context of alcohol use, as alcohol can significantly disrupt normal sleep cycles, leading to issues such as frequent awakenings, non-restorative sleep, and challenging dreams. In individuals with alcohol abuse histories, the impact on sleep may manifest as both difficulties in falling asleep or staying asleep, as well as the vivid and often unsettling dreams that accompany the sleep disturbances. This condition reflects the interplay between substance use and sleep health, illustrating how alcohol acts as a depressant that can initially aid in sleep onset but ultimately leads to an overall decrease in sleep quality. Other sleep disorders like insomnia are more general and not specifically linked to alcohol use, while night terrors typically occur in children and are characterized by significant terror episodes during sleep, not chronic fatigue or a direct link to alcohol history. Narcolepsy, on the other hand, is a neurological disorder affecting the brain's ability to control sleep-wake cycles, unrelated to alcohol consumption patterns. Thus, the specificity of chronic fatigue and disturbing dreams in those with an alcohol abuse background rightly supports alcohol-induced sleep disorder as the correct answer.