Strategies for treating chronic insomnia

Abstract

Insomnia is a prevalent condition that remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Recognizing and treating insomnia are important in decreasing morbidity and restoring quality of life for those who experience sleep disturbances. Appropriate treatment of insomnia should involve multiple interventions designed to address not only the symptoms of insomnia itself, but also any coexisting factors that may be contributing to the sleep disturbances. A combination of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies may be particularly efficacious in those with chronic and debilitating insomnia. Pharmacotherapy is the most frequently used intervention for insomnia in cases where the goal of therapy is immediate relief of symptoms, insomnia is accompanied by significant distress or impairment, nonpharmacologic approaches alone are ineffective, or the patient prefers medication. The ideal hypnotic has the following characteristics: rapid absorption, rapid sleep induction, optimal duration of action, preservation of sleep architecture, and a favorable safety profile. This review will discuss currently available treatment options for insomnia, the benefits of each, and appropriate treatment regimens.