Insomnia in the elderly

Insomnia is more common in older people. There are multiple causes of insomnia including medical and psychiatric illness, medications, specific sleep disorders, environmental and behavioural factors and age-related changes in sleep quality and sleep patterns.

This article reviews the causes of insomnia, assessment issues and management approaches, to provide the reader with a practical approach to the problem. A comprehensive assessment often reveals reversible factors. Non pharmacological approaches include sleep hygiene measures, increasing sunlight exposure and acupuncture. Only after use of these approaches should short term hypnosedative treatment be commenced.

With appropriate management, most older people with insomnia will experience improved sleep.