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Insomnia - Complications

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of insomnia.

Complications:

Insomnia itself is not life threatening, but it can increase the risk of accidents, psychiatric problems, and certain medical conditions, affect school and work performance, and significantly interfere with quality of life. Lack of sleep can cause weight gain and obesity.

Increased Risk of Accidents

Sleepiness increases the risk for motor vehicle accidents. Studies indicate that drowsy driving is as risky as drunk driving.

Quality of Life

Surveys show that people with severe insomnia have a quality of life that is almost as poor as those who have chronic conditions, such as heart failure. Daytime sleepiness can lead to decreased energy, irritability, mistakes at work and school, and poorer relationships.

Thinking and Performance

Studies suggest that insomnia makes it harder to concentrate and perform tasks. Deep sleep deprivation impairs the brain's ability to process information and reduces concentration.

Mood Disorders

Although stress and depression are major causes of insomnia, insomnia may also increase the activity of the hormones and pathways in the brain that can produce emotional problems. Research indicates that chronic insomnia can increase the risk of developing depression and anxiety.

Even modest alterations in waking and sleeping patterns can have significant effects on a person's mood. In both children and adults, the combination of insomnia and daytime sleepiness can produce more severe depression than either condition alone.

Resources

www.aasmnet.org -- American Academy of Sleep Medicine
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr/index.htm -- National Center for Sleep Disorders Research
www.sleepfoundation.org -- National Sleep Foundation
www.sleepeducation.com -- Sleep Education from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

References

Bent S, Padula A, Moore D, Patterson M, Mehling W. Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2006 Dec;119(12):1005-12.

Bliwise DL, Ansari FP. Insomnia associated with valerian and melatonin usage in the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Sleep. 2007 July 1;30(7):881-884.

Kamel NS, Gammack JK. Insomnia in the elderly: cause, approach, and treatment. Am J Med. 2006 Jun;119(6):463-9.

Mindell JA, Emslie G, Blumer J, Genel M, Glaze D, Ivanenko A, et al. Pharmacologic management of insomnia in children and adolescents: consensus statement. Pediatrics. 2006 Jun;117(6):e1223-32.

Mindell JA, Kuhn B, Lewin DS, Meltzer LJ, Sadeh A; American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Behavioral treatment of bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and young children. Sleep. 2006 Oct 1;29(10):1263-76.

Morgenthaler T, Alessi C, Friedman L, Owens J, Kapur V, Boehlecke B, et al. Practice parameters for the use of actigraphy in the assessment of sleep and sleep disorders: an update for 2007. Sleep. 2007 Apr 1;30(4):519-29.

Morgenthaler T, Kramer M, Alessi C, Friedman L, Boehlecke B, Brown T, et al. Practice parameters for the psychological and behavioral treatment of insomnia: an update. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine report. Sleep. 2006 Nov 1;29(11):1415-9.

Morin CM, Bootzin RR, Buysse DJ, Edinger JD, Espie CA, Lichstein KL. Psychological and behavioral treatment of insomnia: update of the recent evidence (1998-2004). Sleep. 2006 Nov 1;29(11):1398-414.

Neckelmann D, Mykletun A, Dahl AA. Chronic insomnia as a risk factor for developing anxiety and depression. Sleep. 2007 July 1;30(7):873-880.

Parish JM. Sleep-related problems in common medical conditions. Chest. 2009 Feb;135(2):563-72.

Ramakrishnan K, Scheid DC. Treatment options for insomnia. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Aug 15;76(4):517-26.

Schutte-Rodin S, Broch L, Buysse D, Dorsey C, Sateia M. Clinical guideline for the evaluation and management of chronic insomnia in adults. J Clin Sleep Med. 2008 Oct 15;4(5):487-504.

Taibi DM, Landis CA, Petry H, Vitiello MV. A systematic review of valerian as a sleep aid: safe but not effective. Sleep Med Rev. 2007 Jun;11(3):209-30.

van Straten A, Cuijpers P. Self-help therapy for insomnia: a meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2009 Feb;13(1):61-71. Epub 2008 Oct 26.

Wilson JF. In the clinic. Insomnia. Ann Intern Med. 2008 Jan 1;148(1):ITC13-1-ITC13-16.

Reviewed last on: 6/23/2009
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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