Insomnia

Insomnia is considered to be acute when the symptoms last less than three months and to be chronic when patients report the inability to fall asleep or maintain their sleep at least three nights per week for three months or longer.1

    Studies show that insomnia negatively affects work performance, impairs decision-making, can damage relationships, increases the chance of work-related or motor vehicle accidents and leads to an overall decline in quality of life.2,3 

    Despite the prevalence of poor sleep quality and insomnia in the general population, people with sleep problems often go unnoticed in the healthcare system.2

    Insomnia

    There is a higher incidence of insomnia with increasing age and with some comorbidities such as diabetes.

    Primary treatment goals are to improve:4

    • Sleep quality and quantity 
    • Insomnia-related daytime impairments 


    Psychological and behavioral interventions are effective and recommended in the treatment of both chronic primary and comorbid (secondary) insomnia.4 

    When pharmacotherapy is utilized, the choice of a specific pharmacological agent within a class is largely directed by:4

    • Symptom pattern
    • Treatment goals
    • Past treatment responses
    • Patient preference
    • Cost
    References
    1.

    Cadet M, Tucker L, Allen DH, et al. Assessing for and Managing Chronic Insomnia in Primary Care Settings. The Nurse Practitioner. 2019;44(7):27-35. doi:10.1097/01.NPR.0000559843.91496.20

    2.

    Bhaskar S, Hemavathy D, Prasad S. Prevalence of Chronic Insomnia in Adult Patients and Its Correlation with Medical Comorbidities. J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(4):780. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.201153

    3.

    Kessler RC, Berglund PA, Coulouvrat C, et al. Insomnia, Comorbidity, and Risk of Injury Among Insured Americans: Results From the America Insomnia Survey. Sleep. 2012;35(6):825-834. doi:10.5665/sleep.1884

    4.

    Schutte-Rodin S, Broch L, Buysse D, et al. Clinical Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Insomnia in Adults. J Clin Sleep Med. 2008;4(5):487-504