Physicians should investigate various possible causes of sleeplessness, such as other medical and psychiatric disorders and poor sleep habits, before initiating treatment. Once a diagnosis has been made, the guidelines state that physicians should establish a tailored treatment plan that includes a sleep medication classified as a benzodiazepine-receptor agonist, such as zaleplon. In particular, the guidelines note that this medication does not cause the side effects associated with older medications, such as dependence and next-day residual effects. These concerns can be eliminated by combining newer medications with careful monitoring by a physician. The Impact of Insomnia Insomnia affects more than 84 million Americans, and is characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining refreshing, restorative sleep.
Insomnia is associated with dramatic impairments of psychosocial function and quality of life.
In particular, people with insomnia report poorer physical and mental well-being, including higher levels of depression and anxiety. When compared with those who do not report sleep problems, people with insomnia report significant alterations in their concentration, memory, ability to accomplish daily tasks, and enjoyment of interpersonal relationships. In addition, people with insomnia generally have more medical complaints, and seek medical care more often than people without insomnia. The CINP is a meeting ground for over 1,000 scientists and clinicians from 45 countries dedicated to excellence in the field of neuropsychopharmacology. In addition to Dr. Roth, the authors include Goran Hajak, M.D., Ph.D., Georg-August Universitat, Germany, and T. Bedirhan Ustun, M.D., Ph.D., World Health Organization, Switzerland.