Diagnosis and management of insomnia

Insomnia is a significant public health issue. Good sleep is essential for emotional and physical wellbeing. The importance of adequate sleep is evidenced by the fact that insomnia can adversely affect physical and mental health. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group on Insomnia defines insomnia as an experience of inadequate or poor-quality sleep characterized by one or more of the following: difficulty falling asleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, waking up too early in the morning, or unrefreshing sleep. The symptoms of insomnia also include daytime consequences such as tiredness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, or irritability. Insomnia can be a symptom of an underlying medical, psychiatric, sleep, or circadian disorder or a disorder in itself (i.e., primary insomnia). This paper will present information about the prevalence, morbidity, causes, and diagnoses of insomnia, and the behavioral and pharmacologic management of this disorder.