Helping patients who say they cannot sleep - Practical ways to evaluate and treat insomnia

Authors
Citation
Hp. Attarian, Helping patients who say they cannot sleep - Practical ways to evaluate and treat insomnia, POSTGR MED, 107(3), 2000, pp. 127
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine
Journal title
POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE
ISSN journal
00325481 → ACNP
Volume
107
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Database
ISI
SICI code
0032-5481(200003)107:3<127:HPWSTC>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
Insomnia is a very common and easily treated condition. It may be the prese nting symptom of many other medical conditions and usually is not a sign of psychological or psychiatric illness. Untreated, in somnia can cause signi ficant economic hardship, morbidity, and mortality, and it may be a risk fa ctor for development of depression or anxiety. Actigraphy and sleep logs ar e essential tools in evaluating insomnia. Their use usually results in a sp ecific causal diagnosis, with effective therapeutic implications. Treatment includes both pharmacologic and behavioral interventions.