Hyperarousal Scale

The Hyperarousal Scale is an assessment tool measuring elevated physiologic and cognitive activation during sleep and wakefulness in insomnia patients. Rooted in contemporary understanding of insomnia as a disorder of hyperarousal (excessive vigilance, elevated muscle tension, racing thoughts, heightened startle response), the scale quantifies the degree to which increased arousal level contributes to insomnia. Hyperarousal is increasingly recognized as a core mechanism underlying insomnia, distinguishing insomnia from simple sleep deprivation.