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Related Experiment Videos

Insomnia: symptom or diagnosis?

A G Harvey1

  • 1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK. allison.harvey@psy.ox.ac.uk

Clinical Psychology Review
|October 5, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Insomnia may not always be a symptom of another condition. Treating insomnia directly could improve sleep and reduce symptoms of other disorders.

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Area of Science:

  • Sleep Medicine
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • The prevailing view considers insomnia a symptom secondary to primary medical or psychological disorders.
  • This perspective often leads to the trivialization or neglect of insomnia symptoms.
  • Distinguishing between primary and secondary insomnia carries significant clinical implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically examine the assumptions and consequences of classifying insomnia as primary versus secondary.
  • To review evidence supporting or refuting the distinction between primary and secondary insomnia.
  • To explore the complex relationship between insomnia and comorbid medical/psychological conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of diagnostic and classification issues in insomnia.
  • Evaluation of insomnia as a symptom of other disorders.
  • Assessment of insomnia comorbidity and its secondary nature.
  • Investigation of insomnia occurrence independent of other conditions.

Main Results:

  • The distinction between primary and secondary insomnia is often unfounded.
  • Insomnia can be a distinct clinical entity, not merely a symptom.
  • Viewing insomnia solely as secondary may hinder effective patient treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Challenging the 'symptom' view of insomnia is crucial for patient care.
  • Direct treatment of insomnia can yield benefits beyond sleep improvement.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the intricate links between insomnia and comorbid disorders.

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