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Sleep disorders among psychiatric outpatients.
Southern Medical Journal
|September 1, 1984
Summary
Insomnia is a common problem in mental health clinics, especially for older adults. Benzodiazepines and treating frequent awakenings show promise for managing insomnia in this population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Insomnia is a prevalent issue in mental health settings, affecting middle-aged and elderly patients.
- Untreated insomnia can exacerbate physical and emotional health conditions and lead to medication dependence or polypharmacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile insomniacs at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Mental Hygiene Clinic.
- To identify common variables and correlations among patients experiencing insomnia.
Main Methods:
- Patient profiling within a VA Mental Hygiene Clinic setting.
- Correlation analysis of patient variables related to insomnia.
Main Results:
- Certain medications, specifically benzodiazepines, demonstrated greater efficacy in treating insomnia.
- Insomnia characterized by frequent awakenings was found to be more responsive to treatment interventions.
Conclusions:
- Benzodiazepines are a potentially effective treatment for insomnia in mental health clinic patients.
- Targeting specific insomnia types, like frequent awakenings, may improve treatment outcomes.