M.D. In the March 2000 issue of Postgraduate Medicine, Dr. Attarian reviews ways to diagnose and treat insomnia, a symptom of several sleep disorders.
Insomnia is a prevalent and serious condition that is often missed or dismissed.
Often regarded as just a nuisance, insomnia can have serious consequences. But contrary to popular belief, psychiatric disorders are more likely to result from sleep problems than to cause them. The first step to getting help, says Attarian, is to see your primary physician, who may refer you to a sleep disorder expert. The expert will take a clinical history and then may use a variety of tools to make a diagnosis. For example, patients may be asked to record the times they are awake and asleep for two to three weeks.