Diagnosis of Insomnia

by ]]>Editorial Staff And Contributors]]>

Before treating ]]>insomnia]]>, your doctor should determine its cause. To do this, he will ask you about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. You may be asked questions about your:

Mood
Physical or mental symptoms or problems
Daily activities
Work pattern or history
Sleep patterns
Psychiatric and medical history
Travel patterns
Eating habits
Recreational substance use (eg, ]]>alcohol]]>, ]]>tobacco]]>, other ]]>drugs]]>)

You may also be asked to fill out a sleep diary, which is a record of your sleep patterns. Your doctor may want to speak with your significant other concerning the quantity and quality of your sleep. Other specialized tests may be ordered depending on what your doctor suspects may be the cause of your insomnia.

References:

National Center on Sleep Disorders Research website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr/index.htm .

National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/ .

Sleep talk with your doctor. National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/site/c.huIXKjM0IxF/b.2421173/k.A325/Sleep_Talk_With_Your_Doctor.htm . Accessed February 11, 2009.

Your guide to healthy sleep. National Center on Sleep Disorders Research. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. November 2005. NIH Publication No. 06-5271. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/healthy_sleep.pdf . Accessed February 11, 2009.

Last reviewed February 2009 by ]]> Rimas Lukas, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.