The International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) is created by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the European Sleep Research Society, the Latin American Sleep Society and the Japanese Society of Sleep Research.

Its purpose is to help scientists study the sleep disorders and their symptoms and diagnosis as a group. It allows them to have access to the resources wide spread. This is helpful in keeping everyone internationally on the same page when it comes to the research of the many sleep disorders. This classification of sleep disorders allows everyone to reference the same disorders when talking about diagnosis and treatments across the world.

First established in 1990 and then revised in 1997 and renamed to add the word Revised to the end making it ICSD-R. The original author was listed as the "Diagnostic Classification Steering Committee". When the classification was revised it was authored by "American Academy of Sleep Medicine". The second edition of this classification was published in 2005 and named ICSD2.

This classification system is what ties together all of the world's terminology when it comes to sleep disorders and their diagnosis and treatment. With this classification researchers and physicians are able to stay on the same track when attempting to discover what the causes are for many of the mysterious sleep disorders and allows them to treat the same yielding similar results in treatment.

Physicians are still at a loss for many of the sleep disorders that plague our society and are working toward finding answers as to why these disorders happen and how to help many people get so my sought after rest. A lack of proper sleep is not just about the individual being a little sleepy.

Over time, chronic sleep disorders can disrupt more than a good night's sleep. These disorders can cause disruptions in the work place, in their personal life, how people interact with others and can cause the person to become less alert and can make life unsafe for those affected. Sleep disorders can also cause an individual's body to become affected. Lack of sleep can cause the immune system to become depressed leaving these patients susceptible to illness and injury.