Complaint classification

Water Reclamation Works by their very nature can, at times be the source of unpleasant odorous emission. The odour-intensive compounds (osmogenes) which make up these emissions are believed to arise mainly as the decomposition products of carbohydrates and proteins. The breakdown of this waste material proceeds by aerobic and anaerobic processes at various stages of the treatment plant. Atmospheric pollution of this nature frequently results in complaints from members of the public either resident, or perhaps employed in the vicinity of such works. In order to confirm or deny that a reclamation works is responsible for a particular nuisance and, if possible to identify the causal agents it was decided that the Authority should have the capability of analysing for odorous and other polluting constituents of the atmosphere. This paper describes the progress made towards this objective and summarises the experience gained with a procedure in use. There are two principle approaches available for the analytical classification of odorous emissions -... 

Insomnia is a complaint, not a disease. The causes of insomnia are classified both in the DSM-IV for psychiatrists and in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders for sleep experts (Table 8—3). Insomnia can be a primary problem, or it can be secondary to medical or psychiatric disorders or to medications. Insomnia can also be due psychophysiological factors such as stress or to circadian rhythm distur-... 

Sleep disorders are common, and are generally underdiagnosed. The two major complaints related to sleep are insomnia ( I can t sleep ) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS, I can t stay awake ). EDS is a relatively nonspecific symptom. It can be the end result of any factor that causes sleep disruption, and it can be caused by primary or intrinsic sleep disorders. Insomnia of any cause can result in sleep deprivation and subsequent EDS. The most common cause of EDS in the general population is self-imposed sleep deprivation, or insufficient sleep syndrome. By contrast, the most common causes of EDS seen in a sleep center are primary (intrinsic) disorders of EDS. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM, formerly the American Sleep Disorders Association) classification of sleep disorders includes over 80 diagnoses that are associated with EDS, but the majority of patients evaluated at sleep centers have sleep apnea, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, or periodic limb movements of sleep. 

According to ICD-10 [4], the sleep disturbance must have occurred at least three times per week for at least 1 month. The 1-month timeframe is essential also for primary insomnia in the American Psychiatric Association s DSM-IV classification [5], Also the patient must complain either of difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep, or of poor quality of sleep. However, the presence of the complaint of unsatisfactory sleep is not sufficient for the diagnosis of insomnia in its own right. It should also be a source of marked distress for the patient, and it should interfere with his/her ordinary activities in daily living. This prevents mistaking insomnia for just a symptom of another mental or physical disorder. 

The International Classification of Sleep Disorders [11] considers severity criteria as a guide to be applied in conjunction with consideration of the patient s clinical status. Mild insomnia refers to an almost nightly complaint of an insufficient amount of sleep or not feeling rested after the habitual sleep episode. There is little or no... 

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