What type of sleep disorder may cause inadequate REM sleep?

Inadequate REM sleep can be primarily associated with disorders such as depression or chronic stress. This is due to the way these conditions can disrupt the natural sleep cycle. Depression often leads to alterations in sleep architecture, including reduced REM sleep duration and intensity. Chronic stress impacts the body's hormonal balance, particularly cortisol levels, which can negatively influence sleep patterns, often resulting in fragmented sleep and insufficient time spent in REM sleep.

The significance of REM sleep cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in emotional regulation, memory consolidation, and cognitive functioning. Therefore, understanding how specific psychological disorders affect REM sleep is vital for both diagnosis and treatment strategies in sleep medicine.

While other choices touch on sleep-related issues, they do not have the same direct correlation to inadequate REM sleep as depression and chronic stress do. For example, anxiety disorders can certainly affect sleep but may not exclusively lead to inadequate REM sleep, as they can also manifest as issues related to insomnia or non-REM sleep disruptions.