Insomnia Disorder

About Insomnia Disorder

Insomnia disorder is defined by dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality, with difficulty initiating sleep, maintaining sleep or waking early and being unable to return to sleep, despite adequate opportunity for sleep. In DSM-5 the difficulty occurs at least three nights a week for at least three months and causes distress or problems with daytime functioning, such as fatigue, poor concentration or mood changes. Short term sleep difficulty is very common, and chronic insomnia affects a substantial minority of adults, more often women and older people. Insomnia frequently occurs alongside depression, anxiety, pain and other health conditions, and DSM-5 removed the earlier distinction between primary and secondary insomnia, recognizing it as a condition that deserves attention in its own right. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, which addresses sleep related behaviors and thoughts, is widely recommended as a first line treatment, and medications may be used in some situations, generally for limited periods.