Insomnia Symptoms in Doctor of Pharmacy Students in the United States: A Multicenter Study

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can negatively affect academic performance, mental health, and quality of life. Despite the rigor of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) training, little is known about the prevalence of insomnia among PharmD students in the United States. This study evaluated the presence of insomnia across multiple institutions and characterized symptoms to inform targeted interventions.

This is a cross-sectional, institutional review board-exempt survey of pharmacy students at nine schools in the United States between March and April 2025. Participants completed demographic information and the Insomnia Symptom Questionnaire (ISQ), a validated 13-item instrument designed to detect insomnia. The primary outcome was the proportion of students meeting ISQ criteria for symptoms consistent with insomnia. Secondary outcomes included characterization of insomnia-related symptoms and comparisons by year in training. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests were applied.

Seventy-three students completed the survey (mean age 25.5 years; 59% female; 74% Asian American). Overall, 26% met criteria for symptoms consistent with insomnia, with the highest prevalence among first-year (35%) and fourth-year (27.3%) students. Fatigue was the most common symptom, reported by 53.4% of students, followed by daytime sleepiness (38.3%) and concentration difficulties (37%). Difficulty staying asleep and frequent awakenings were less often endorsed.

Approximately one in four PharmD students screened positive for symptoms consistent with insomnia, with fatigue and difficulty concentrating as prominent features. These findings highlight a potential need for wellness initiatives and targeted interventions to support sleep health in pharmacy education.